Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 28 May 1991

Vol. 409 No. 1

Written Answers. - Second Level Schools' Entry Process.

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

149 Mr. O'Dea asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to (a) the problems which have arisen as a result of a change in the process of selection of children for entry into second level schools in the Limerick area, (b) the fact that they are now selected by means of an assessment which makes their performance in the entrance examination irrelevant, (c) that one of the schools to which children have been allocated when they failed to get the school of their first choice (details supplied) does not have on offer the type of courses which would enable the children to qualify to pursue a third level degree course at university when their second level studies have been completed and (d) that the net effect of the new entrance system will be to make the second and subsequent choices of the pupils irrelevant and people will only be considered for the school which they named as their first choice; and if she will make a statement on the matter in view of the widespread dissatisfaction which the new system has caused in the Limerick area.

Minister for Education (Mrs. O'Rourke)

I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 180 and 181 of 14 May 1991. My Department's primary objective is to ensure that all the schools in a catchment area have, between them, adequate provision to meet the demand for post-primary places from pupils in that particular area. I am satisfied that this objective has been achieved in the case of Limerick city.

Intake policy is essentially a matter for each post-primary school management, subject to the applicaton of acceptable criteria. As I have already made clear to school authorities, my Department do not favour the use of criteria based on educational or socio-economic grounds.

As regards the school referred to by the Deputy, my Department understand that the curriculum to be offered in the school in the forthcoming school year is being reviewed by the school authorities.