O’Dea speaks out on school placement row

DEFENCE Minister Willie O’Dea yesterday intervened in Limerick’s secondary school placement row.

Angry city parents whose children have been left without secondary school places for next September are meeting in Limerick tonight to discuss a plan of action.

Up to 80 sixth class primary school students did not receive any place for their children in the first round of offers sent out on Monday from 15 city secondary schools.

The placement is now being managed from the Limerick Education Centre.

Minister O’Dea said he will raise the matter with Education Minister Mary Hanafin.

“We will be talking about the whole situation in Limerick and how we can best alleviate it,” he said.

A new system was put in place last October when 11 students were left out of the secondary system and were only offered places after the personal intervention of the then Minister for Education, Noel Dempsey.

While secondary schools are not commenting, they say no student will be left without a place.

Tonight’s parents meeting, at Pery’s Hotel at 8pm, will be addressed by Labour education spokesperson, Jan O’Sullivan.

“I’d be delighted if public representatives and councillors from the other parties could come along. It’s open also to school principals to come and discuss the issue,” the local TD said.

Last year, the problem affected children from disadvantaged parts of the city.

Most of those who did not receive school offers on Monday come from middle-class parts of the city.

“The devastation for individual children who feel they’re not wanted, is the real issue, regardless of their social background,” Deputy O’Sullivan said.