Relief for parents as extra places approved for Boyne CS

After a very anxious few weeks, there was good news today for children on the waiting list for Boyne Community School in Trim with confirmation that they will get a place.

Around 30 children remained on the waiting list after the final round of offers was made this week, leading to huge stress and worry for these children and their parents, most of whom live in the town and have no alternative unless they travel outside Trim for their schooling.

News today that those on the waiting list will now have a place has come as a huge relief for the children on the list.

Karen Dempsey, whose son Jack was one of those left without a school place for September, said she was "thrilled" that he had now got a place. Karen had recently highlighted that Jack was the only one of his group of friends who didn't get into Boyne CS and had no school to go to. Jack attends St Michael's Primary School and Karen said 11 children from his school had not got a place at the end of the enrolment process.

"I know the school was doing their to provide places, but I do feel they need to review their admission policy so that children from Trim get priority.

"This is going to be an issue going forward and I feel they need to look again at their policy. I am thrilled that Aaron and all the kids got in, but it has been a stressful few weeks."

In a letter to the affected parents today, the school said it had been engaging with the Department of Education with a view to resolving the shortfall of places in the Trim area and had got confirmation in the last 24 hours that the Department has committed to providing additional accommodation and resources to allow the school accommodate the increased enrolments.

Deputy Peadar Tóibín welcomed the news saying it was a "tremendous relief" for all the parents who had contacted him who were extremely anxious for their children's educational future.

"To say that this is a huge weight off their shoulders cannot be underestimated. We had campaigned actively to the Minister, her private secretary, through Dáil questions and the Department of Education over the past number of months to stress the urgent need to accommodate the extra students. However, I do feel that parents and students were left worrying needlessly as they sought to get answers. At times there has been a lack of communication from the Department of Education on resolving the issue which must be addressed in the future.

"However, while students for this year’s entry to the Boyne Community School have now been catered for, we must not see a repeat of this situation going forward. It’s imperative that a building programme commence now to secure the necessary government investment for a town like Trim whose population has been increasing rapidly.

"Families and children from the town living right beside the school cannot be forced out of the town and have to travel to Athboy, Longwood and Dunshaughlin which adds financial cost for parents and also impacts on developing friendships with their own peer group from the town. While the news for this years students is welcome we must now keep up the campaign for the future educational needs of Trim."

Local councillor Noel French said while the problem had been solved for this year, it occurs year after year.

“This problem occurs year after year creating worry and upset for children and parents and it really is not an acceptable way of organising admissions. The Department are only providing a stop-gap measure as they did previously when large numbers were left without a place. This is also unfair on all the pupils as there no increase in facilities and resources for all the children of the school, just additional accommodation. “