Children near rural Laois school unable to secure places

People living near a rural primary school are unable to secure places for their children, a Councillor has said.

Independent Cllr Aisling Moran said “I have had numerous people ringing me” about the issue. She said proximity to the school appeared as number five in the criteria for admittance. 

She said it was a local primary school in a rural area and “people living next door to the rural school can’t get into the school.” She said in one case there were over 25 children on the waiting list which she said was more children than was needed for an additional teacher. 

Fine Gael Cllr Vivienne Phelan suggested Cllr Moran should raise the matter in a motion at the next meeting. She said the school’s board of management would be responsible for the criteria. 

Cllr Moran said the Department of Education was funding the school and should have a say on who got in. 

The issue was discussed during the November meeting of Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District.