Ennis Principal Insists We Are Failing Children With Lack Of School Places

An Ennis school principal says we must acknowledge that we’re failing children, who still don’t know if they have a secondary school place for September.

Principals in the county town and surrounding areas have come together to call on the Education Minister to take action, after it was revealed many sixth class pupils have been unable to get a secondary school spot.

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Despite being just weeks away from finishing primary school, up to 40 sixth class pupils in the Ennis area still don’t know if they’ll be able to take the step up to secondary this September.

The five secondary schools serving the county town are at capacity for enrolments, leaving families in a state of distress.

Following a meeting of all of the principals in primary schools in the Ennis catchment area, a letter was drafted to be sent to the Education Minister.

Principal of Ennis Educate Together Tríona Golden says it’s an extremely difficult time for families – and this needs to be addressed.

The problem has been raised in this week’s meeting of Clare County Council by Indepdendent Coucillor Ann Norton and Fianna Fáil’s Clare Colleran Molloy who say it’s one of the big issues they’re being met with on the election campaign trail.

It’s feared the issue of multiple bookings may be partly to blame, where a child has been offered a place in more than one school and hasn’t withdrawn their name from the ones they won’t be joining.

One mother from Kilmaley has been speaking to Fianna Fáil Cllr Colleran-Molloy and is in major distress as her son is unable to get a spot in the county town.