asked the Minister for Education the result of any inquiries made by his Department during the past week in regard to children from east Meath who will not be taken on next autumn by secondary schools in Drogheda unless they reach a certain standard laid down by those schools.

My Department's investigation of this matter is proceeding and I will advise the Deputy of the result as soon as possible. I can say the preliminary indications are that the information as conveyed by the Deputy is not true. The vocational school is in a position to take all applicants. They have not refused anybody. A number of the other schools will be taking all the pupils who apply, and most of them will be taking the vast majority who apply.

Parents have been notified already by a few of the schools that their children will not be taken in September. Is it because of inquiries that they have changed their minds?

No, they may not have changed their minds at all. If a school has 100 vacancies in September and there are 200 applicants, obviously there will be 100 refusals.

That is getting back to my point. What will happen to those children?

There are other schools available in the area where there are vacancies. I have already said the vocational schools will take all those who apply.

Will they be able to provide a full secondary course up to leaving certificate standard?

Yes, of course.

In view of the fact that a number of children have been refused, would the Minister consider a post-primary school for Duleek which would serve the area? A large number of the children come from that area.

That is a separate question. I am not sure whether there is an application in from Duleek. If there is, I will be prepared to consider it.

Would the Minister care to comment on why some schools, particularly those referred to as old-fashioned secondary schools, can afford to be selective in cases like this, whereas vocational schools take all comers?

I am assured that in this area selection is based on examinations in some cases and also if the children have brothers or sisters in the school there is a rather natural desire on the part of parents to keep families together and there is a willingness on the part of the schools to accede to that desire. There are a number of reasons why schools do not take pupils—not any one reason.

This implies that all children are not given a fair chance of entry into some of those schools.

Not necessarily.

They are not always selected on ability. They are selected on relationships or standing.

Does the Deputy disagree with that?

I do.

This is leading to argument.

All children were supposed to get an equal chance to go to the school of their choice and if they were clever enough they could go on for third level education.

We are departing from Question Time. Order.

I accept broadly what the Deputy has said. I fully understand the position of parents who have two sons in one school and another coming along and want him to go to school with the others. That is a perfectly understandable desire on the parents' part. I sympathise with the schools in question who seek to satisfy parents in that way.

Will the Minister let me know the outcome?

I think I have let the Deputy know but I will be glad to let him know of any further developments.

The remaining Questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.