Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Jun 1994

Vol. 443 No. 7

Written Answers. - Post-Primary Places.

Theresa Ahearn

Question:

203 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Education if a student is entitled to go to the school of his choice; if a school is obliged by her Department to refuse a place to a child outside the catchment area in a situation where there is an acute shortage of places; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

My Department's primary responsibility is to ensure that sufficient post-primary places are made available in the school or schools in a catchment area to meet the demand from the children of the area. My Department does not guarantee entry into a particular school of choice to any student, nor would it be practicable to do so.

Enrolment policy is primarily a matter for each post-primary school management subject to the application of acceptable criteria. My Department has, with the post-primary school managerial associations, drawn up an agreed memorandum of understanding on selection procedures for the enrolment of pupils in second-level schools. All the parties to this agreed memorandum have emphasised the importance they attach to the principle of the school working in, and for, the community it serves and the need for post-primary schools to cater, in the first instance, for children from their own communities and catchment areas.