Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Over the last year or so I have had an increasing number of parents of children of secondary school-going age who have not been allocated a school place. For a small number of people, this goes on months into the next school year. There is an added complication whereby on the school waiting list it is not clear what children have already been allocated a place in another school or are already in another school. Some are offered school places very far away and for a working parent it is just impossible to bring them there. Many parents have already been on to me about next September. The parents and kids are, naturally, really stressed about this situation. Can the Minister ensure this issue is a priority for her and her Department in future? It is becoming a bigger issue and it would be really good if we could get it sorted out.

See this speech in context