Calls are being made for a centralised system to be put in place in Clare for second level school places.
Parents in Ennis have raised concerns that a significant number of pupils in the town still don’t have their spots confirmed in secondary schools next year.
Concern has emerged in Ennis once again, after offers went out to students in recent weeks for places in secondary schools next year.
It’s understood some pupils have received more than one offer, having applied to a number of schools, but others have received none.
It’s not the first time capacity issues have arisen in the town and calls have been made in the past for an additional school to cater for the growing number of students in Ennis and its environs.
Ennis Fianna Fáil councillor Mark Nestor, who’s also a qualified secondary school teacher, is hopeful further places will come on stream for students in the next few weeks.
An extension at Ennis Community College and Gaelcholáíste an Chlár, which is intended to bring about more places in the area is nearing completion and 56 additional places have been offered by the schools, bringing their total for next year to 152.
St Flannan’s College received 476 applications for 216 places and its Principal says that due to the unprecedented demand for first year spots, a review of teacher allocation and accommodation provision was carried out.
As a result, a further 24 places have now been offered at the school.
Fr Ignatius McCormack says this year has seen the highest number of sixth class students ever preparing to begin their first year at second level.
Clare’s Fine Gael TD has called on the Education Minister to address the issue as a matter of urgency, saying the necessary supports must be put in place to resolve it.
In the meantime, Joe Carey is encouraging parents whose children haven’t received an offer to indicate to schools that they wish to be kept on a waiting list.
Calls are now being made for a centralised application process for secondary schools to cut down on multiple offers for some students.
This type of system has been in place in Limerick for a number of years and Donal O’hAinifein from the Ennis Irish Primary Principals Network says it would ease stress for pupils in their final year of primary school.
He believes the current system is unfair.
