When Christine Madden returned to Dublin last summer from Germany, she thought life was going to be plain sailing. Both she and her husband Finbarr found work quickly - he's a teacher, she's a journalist. They even located suitable southside accommodation. Schools for their two daughters, however, are proving another matter.

Just now, one of the biggest challenges that faces Christine Madden is finding secondary school places for her girls, Ciara (10) and Aoife (8).

"Getting them into primary school wasn't too difficult," she recalls. "I was over [from Germany] in the spring and there didn't seem to be a problem. Only one of the schools we looked at was completely full. Now I'm looking at secondary schools and I'm really shocked at what I'm finding. I had no idea it would be so difficult."

For Madden, the search for a south Dublin school has only just begun. "I applied to one school and was shattered to learn that they had just sent out notifications for 2002 - that's the year my daughter is due to start.

"Another school told me all they could do was accept my application, but that they had a long waiting list. They didn't say anything to encourage or discourage me."

A prime concern, she says, is that her children should be happy at school. The fact that schools are operating long waiting lists doesn't leave much room for manoeuvre.

She fears she will be forced into making a hasty decision. "There doesn't seem to be an opportunity to consider what will suit your child. It's a case of grab what you can.

"I worry that if we find a school and it doesn't work out - if it's too far away from home or she doesn't feel comfortable there - we'll be trapped."

Meanwhile, the search goes on. "I've written to a number of schools. I don't know what else to do. You feel so helpless. People coming back to Ireland are at a distinct disadvantage."