asked the Minister for Education (a) the number of students originally intended for admission to the Comprehensive School, Dooradoyle, from Saint Paul's National School, Dooradoyle, County Limerick; and (b) why the original decision has now been changed to a two-mile radius; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Dooradoyle (Limerick) School Admissions .
24.
: The selection of pupils for acceptance to Dooradoyle Comprehensive School is made annually by the board of management of the school. St. Paul's National School was opened for the first time only in 1970 and accordingly, there would not have been pupils in the senior classes of the school at the time of establishment of the comprehensive school in 1971.
The arrangement relating to the acceptance of a percentage of the annual intake of the comprehensive school being from pupils from a two-mile radius of the school was made on the basis of consideration of representations which had been received from the parents of the pupils of St. Paul's National School. These representations concerned the opportunities available to these pupils for admission to the comprehensive school.
Following representations from the parents of the pupils of St. Paul's National School and discussions between an official of my Department and the authorities of the comprehensive school, it was arranged that 39 places would be offered to the pupils of St. Paul's National School in 1978. I understand that some pupils from St. Paul's National School whose residences were within the two-mile radius did not accept the places offered to them.
: Why did the Minister change from the original decision? Was it because at a meeting somebody twisted his arm? I can tell him that the parents in the area are quite disturbed at the moment because a number of boys have no places as a result of the Minister's original promise.
: The school concerned did not exist when the original arrangements for intake were being made for that school in Limerick. Special arrangements were agreed between the Minister for Education at that time, the late Deputy O'Malley, and the authorities of the school. The school was founded in the meantime and these pupils were available for places in the school and in the near vicinity of the present school. I met a deputation from the parents, and the Deputy may have been there also. I succeeded in having 39 places made available. The best thing the Deputy could do would be to persuade people who are applying for places to be serious about the position. A number of people applied for and were allotted places and did not take them up.
: Why and at what stage did the Minister change to the two-mile radius?
: I did not make any change.
: The Minister did. The original decision provided for the sisters and the brothers of those children. At a later stage it was decided to refer to a two-mile radius.
: I did not make any change.
: The Minister did. The original decision provided for the sisters and the brothers of those children. At a later stage it was decided to refer to a two-mile radius.
: The Deputy is wrong in his figures. There were 13 brothers and sisters and 26 others. That was 39 allocated places altogether. Unfortunately some of them were not taken up.
: Is the Minister aware that his latest proposition has worsened the position for the parents? Can he guarantee any hope for the future of the children of this school?
: My action succeeded in getting 39 places for pupils from that school and some of the pupils who were offered places would not take them up. I cannot make them take them up.
: I am calling Question No. 25.
: Why could the Minister not do something about it?
: I made arrangements to facilitate the pupils. I cannot give the exact number, but there were far more places available than were taken up.
: Is it not true that a decision was made by the Minister's colleague——
: Question No. 25.