Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 24 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 5

Written Answers. - School Placement.

Michael Creed

Question:

480 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will clarify the position regarding the State's obligation to provide education for citizens presenting themselves for an education at State-funded schools. [23029/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods):

Rule 64 of the rules for national schools deals with the enrolment and admission of children to primary schools. The compulsory school starting age in a primary school is six years of age while a child must be at least four years of age before she-he can be enrolled in a primary school.

Boards of management of primary schools are charged with the direct governance of schools and the enrolment of pupils is a matter for those boards. While parents are usually able to have their children enrolled in the school of their choice, local circumstances may be such at a particu lar time, that a board of management may find it necessary to restrict enrolment to those children from a particular area or a particular age group.

Similarly, enrolment in second level schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of the individual school and my Department does not have a role in decisions made by schools in such matters. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking second level places in an area. This may result, however, in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. It is accepted that where schools receive more enrolment applications than they can cater for, a selection procedure is necessary. Schools adopt different selection procedures in such cases.

My main responsibility as Minister for Education and Science is to ensure that there are sufficient places available to cater for the needs of pupils at primary and post-primary levels. I am satisfied that the current provisions for recognition and funding of schools enable me to discharge this responsibility.