42 Clare children who were without a secondary school place for September are to be accepted into Ennis Community College.
Upset had been caused to dozens of families living in the environs of Ennis as 42 sixth class pupils had no secondary school to go for the coming academic year.
During Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s April visit to Co Clare, Scoil Chríost Rí Board of Management Chairman Jim Cooney brought the matter to light at the official opening of the Cloughleigh school.
In May, Independent TD Dr. Michael Harty reminded Varadkar nothing had been done since the item was first brought to his attention. The matter was also discussed at a meeting of Clare County Council with councillors Ann Norton and Clare Colleran Molloy tabling a motion and outlining that principals based in the Ennis environs had written a joint letter to the Department of Education.
Last month, the twelve of principals held a meeting with a senior official from the Department of Education facilitated by Deputy Joe Carey.
This week, it was confirmed that Ennis Community College were to take on the forty two students with the Department committing to giving the school the additional resources required such as extra teaching posts and classrooms.
Fine Gael TD, Pat Breen has praised their willingness to offer second level places to the students. “This of course will put some pressure on the school’s current resources, but I have been assured by the Department of Education that it will work on the issue of additional teaching posts, additional space and other requirements. I intend to keep a watching brief of these commitment from the Department to ensure the school is adequately resourced by September.”
Recently, Ennis Community College commenced work on a major extension allowing their capacity rise to 750.
