Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

No pressure. There is a challenge whereby individual schools have their own recruitment and application systems. If a student applies, say in the case of Gorey, to each of the three schools and is offered a place in each, they normally have a period in which they have to make up their mind. For certain students who have not been offered places, it is concerning to be told they are on a waiting list. It is worrying to them and their family. You can give them some comfort by saying eventually the schools will get through the waiting lists but when they see their friends getting school places, for a 12-year-old, which is the normal age we are talking about, that is a worrying experience. In other areas where there is a real tightness on school places and no guarantee of a place at the end of that process, that is very worrying.

I am aware of the central applications system operating in locations including Limerick. I understand it works reasonably well but I would be interested in hearing the perspective of the Department. Can schools get over the issue around being permitted to share data? It is useful, even in the absence of a formal system, if there is a way for parents and families to consent to data being shared so two local schools can chat to each other to work out the number of duplicates and arrange to contact the relevant people to let them know. The real worry is for those not offered any school place. To be told they are on a waiting list is really stressful.

This should be a relatively easy problem to resolve, though I know the Minister will say not everything is easy, but for parents and, particularly, children left in limbo, the easier we can make it, the better. I hope the Minister's response will address some of those specific concerns.