Wicklow TD Says Lack Of School Places In Greystones Frustrating.

Wicklow TD Jennifer Whitmore has described the lack of updated information on Greystones school place shortages as frustrating.

Wicklow TD Jennifer Whitmore has described the lack of updated information on Greystones school place shortages as frustrating. Deputy Whitmore received an email from the Department of Education confirming that they had done school inspections last week to determine how they would accommodate the circa 22 students who have yet to secure a secondary school place in the area. Beyond that, it provided no further updates to reassure parents or local schools.Deputy Whitmore said:"There doesn't appear to be any further information forthcoming from the Department of Education. We were told there would be an update shortly at our last meeting on the 1st of March. We received a notice today which gave no real information other than that a further update would be due soon. It is hard to believe that, given that I have been flagging this with the department officials since last October, they haven't resolved the issue yet. Parents need to get an update and know there will be places for their children in September.

"This entire debacle has been challenging and frustrating, and I know that the parents and the children affected by this will be upset by this lack of progress."It is reassuring that the Department guarantees that every child will have a school place, but we have been hearing that for months now, and it is not as if parents can get children ready for the next school year based on that. There are open days, book lists, school transport applications, and uniforms that need to be purchased. None of this can be done in this limbo where children don't know where they will go to school yet.“At this stage, the priority has to be those more than 20 children who don't have a place. I will write back to the Department to express my frustration, and that of parents, at the lack of urgency from the government on this. It is reasonable to expect a timely update on this matter, and that has not been forthcoming. It is entirely unacceptable."