Vol. 491 No. 3
452 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will ensure that a person (details supplied) in County Limerick receives a place in an appropriate second level school in Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11672/98]
I am aware of the case referred to by the Deputy.
The selection and enrolment of pupils in second level schools is, in the first instance the responsibility of individual schools. My Department's main objective is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking second level places in the area. This may result, however, in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
Where parents have failed to secure a suitable school placement after having made all possible efforts in this regard, my Department endeavours, by a process of consultation with school management, to have the pupil in question placed in a school in his-her locality. In this case, the parents have been given a list of schools in the Limerick city area with an indication of schools with likely spare capacity. It is, of course, open to the parents to again request my Department's assistance if they continue to be unsuccessful in locating a suitable placement.
