Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

According to the enrolment responses we have received, 80% of our schools at primary and secondary level, or approximately 4,000 schools, do not have to deal with issues of capacity and accommodation. There may be suggestions in certain areas that a child is better off in the local VEC school rather than a free voluntary school for reasons relating to special needs or educational perceptions. Such a preference would never be written down but the parents will have heard about it and, being protective, they will not complain. We have tried to deal with this issue but it is delicate by definition.

The Senator suggested that no school in a rural area has refused new students. That has been the experience. If the school has capacity, why would it not accept students?