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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation

Trim school placements

Summary

Deputy Guirke raised the shortage of places at Boyne Community School in Trim, including the case of twins separated by admissions. The Minister said he would pass the details to the Education Minister and agreed the situation made little sense.

I want to bring to the Minister's attention, and that of the Minister for Education, news that parents received last week in Trim, County Meath. They received letters stating that their children would not have a place at the local Boyne Community School next year. There were 362 applicants for just 192 places at the school, leaving 170 children without a placement. The population of Trim is growing every year and it is now over 12,000. Last year there was a farcical situation when twins applied for the school and only one was accepted. Parents are calling me to say they do not drive and cannot afford to send their children out of the local area. Now they are frantically calling other schools outside Trim for placements for their children, only to be told they are already at full capacity and they must be put on a waiting list. We have an education emergency in Trim. It will get worse unless the Minister for Education and her Department step up to help with an immediate resolution to the current situation. Nearly 200 children have no school to attend next year at the moment. We still have time. I ask the Minister to ask the Minister for Education to intervene in this matter.

Comment on this

I would be happy to. If the Deputy could forward the details on to me I will be happy to pass them on to the Minister for Education. I do not see how twins being divided could possibly make sense. We will look at the details.

Comment on this