Limerick parents demand school place for kids
Parents of Limerick primary school children who haven't received offers of a secondary school place for next year will hold a crisis meeting tomorrow night after a new school application system left up to 80 young children out in the cold.
Almost 80 children in Limerick were not offered a secondary school place for next year despite listing five schools in order of preference in a new CAO-type secondary school application system.
The new system was introduced in Limerick last year after 17 children were unable to find a place in any city school.
Last Friday, the first round of offers were sent out, with up to 80 children failing to receive an offer of any school, leaving many 12-year-olds feeling "totally rejected", according to some angry parents.
Some parents of children who were not offered places in the first round have expressed their anger with the new system which they say has failed their children.
"We feel totally devastated for our son. He was the only one in his class not to get an offer of any school and he feels totally rejected. All his friends keep texting him and calling him asking him why he hasn't a place. He's only 12 years old he shouldn't have to go through this," said one father.
According to the Limerick Education Centre, which is administering the new system, a second round of offers will be made on March 3.
However, many parents feel they shouldn't have to wait "in limbo" and they are worried that their children still might not get places.
Labour TD Jan O'Sullivan has called on the Minister for Education Mary Hannafin to intervene.
"I've spoken to dozens of parents who have not received an offer of any school for their children and they are extremely upset as they feel they have co-operated with the system but now they feel totally isolated and their children feel rejected," said Deputy O'Sullivan.
"I've spoken to the Minister for Education and told her about the problems and suggested that she has a role in this new system as it was introduced last year by her Department and it needs to be supported and cannot be just left to people in Limerick to sort out," she added.
Limerick-based Minister for Defence, Willie O'Dea, has also held a meeting with Minister Hannafin to discuss the situation. The Limerick TD says he will put alternative proposals to the education Minister if the new process does not work.
Tomorrow night's meeting takes place at Pery's Hotel on Glentworth Street in Limerick city at 8pm.
