Hopes for end to admission crisis as schools back deal

SCHOOLS in Limerick city will have to give priority to students from the city and enrol children from all social backgrounds to avoid a repeat of this year’s admission crisis.

The centralised enrolment system was agreed in principle by representatives of the city’s second-level schools after lengthy discussions with Education Minister Noel Dempsey yesterday.

The school boards and principals will meet the minister’s officials again on Thursday in an effort to accommodate most of the 17 boys who have been unable to secure a second-level place this year. Eight of the boys have been in that position for more than a year.

A handful of the children are expected to be offered alternative education, including placement on Youthreach schemes or home tuition.

There was optimism among education sources in the city last night that these efforts should prove successful given the positive attitude displayed by all parties at yesterday’s discussions with the minister.

While Mr Dempsey also commended the positive attitude, it is understood he made clear to school authorities that he would introduce regulations to force them to accept certain students if the current situation remains unresolved.

He had expressed the view that some Limerick schools were deliberately excluding boys from certain disadvantaged areas, which had led to their enrolment difficulties.

After the meeting, Mr Dempsey said: “I think if you got the addresses of all of the students that were excluded you would find a remarkable similarity and the areas from which the students were refused would be well known to people in Limerick.”

Further discussions will be held after this week about a co-ordinated approach to admissions from next year.

Sources said this would include schools offering places at the same time and priority being given to primary pupils from the city.