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.