Dempsey tries to resolve enrolment crisis

School principals are meeting the Minister for Education in Limerick City today to try and resolve an enrolment crisis that has seen 17 boys without a place in secondary school.

Eight of the boys, who reportedly come from disadvantaged areas, are starting their second year without a school place. Mr Dempsey has met local councillors and TDs and has invited all the principals in primary and post-primary schools to attend the meeting.

A spokeswoman for the Minister said this morning he was intent on providing school places for the boys for this academic year.

"Yes he does hope to resolve this matter for them [the 17 boys] and also try to prevent this problem from arising again", she said.

Secondary schools in Limerick have been accused of "cherry picking" students by the Minister by discriminating against those from certain areas of the city.

Mr Dempsey said yesterday that the city has an adequate number of places in secondary schools. He pointed out that the number of post-primary students in the city has fallen from 9,000 in 1999 to just over 7,000 this year.

If today's meeting fails to resolve the issue, Mr Dempsey has said he would consider amending the Education Act to force schools to take the students.

In May there were 49 boys without a place. A Department spokeswoman said that 22 have since secured places.

The Minister originally called today's the meeting at the beginning of May, but it was delayed pending the results of a number of 31 student appeals against their refusal of a school place.