Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 8 Mar 1994

Vol. 440 No. 1

Written Answers. - Swords (Dublin) School Places.

Nora Owen

Ceist:

169 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Education if she will ask the second level schools in Swords, County Dublin, to make available a specific number of places which would go automatically to children coming from the rural hinterland served by Swords such as Ballyboughal, Naul, Donabate and Oldtown in view of the fact that often these children have to wait until the very last minute to be told whether there will be a place for them in any one of the four schools.

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

I have not been made aware, nor has my Department, of difficulties being experienced by children from the areas referred to by the Deputy in gaining entry to any of the four second level schools in Swords.

Intake policy is essentially a matter for each post-primary school management subject to the application of acceptable criteria. 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 from pupils in that particular area. I am satisfied that this requirement is being met for the area in question.

If the Deputy wishes to make further inquiries in relation to a specific case or cases she should submit the details to my Department.