James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is always difficult with education cases in any scenario, especially in cases when there are a set of rules and a case falls just below the line, such as in this case. I believe the numbers Deputy Tully suggested were 77 versus 78. These calls are always difficult ones. People who are on boards of appeal and hearings having to adjudicate on these cases always find themselves in a difficult situation. Often, sticking to the letter of the rules is a way to ensure transparency and consistency. I appreciate completely, however, that there may be extenuating circumstances in this case.

The Deputy made the point that there may be three additional students coming in. That is a fair point. I do not know whether that was considered in the appeal, although it would not be helpful for me to speculate whether it was. All I can do is pass those observations on to the Minister for Education. Deputy Tully might engage further in that regard after that.

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