Concern over school places for children

FEARS have been expressed that dozens of Limerick city children, particularly those from disadvantaged areas, could be left without school places next year.

A number of schools have pulled out of a controversial scheme which had to be initiated by the Department of Education last autumn in a bid to prevent a repeat of a situation which left more than 80 Limerick children without a second-level school to go to after they had finished their primary education.

The crisis was averted when then Education Minister Noel Dempsey brought principals together to find places for the remaining children.