May 2004
NEWB Reassures Limerick Parents about the Education of their Children

Our work has already helped reduce numbers without confirmed places in second-level from 57 to 28” Eddie Ward(CEO)

Eddie Ward (Chief Executive Officer, National Education Welfare Board) today (20 May 2004) assured 28 Limerick children that they will receive an education from next September.

“The NEWB has a national remit to ensure that every child either attends school or otherwise receives an education” Eddie Ward said. “We’re committed to delivering on that” he added.

“Our Education Welfare Officers in Limerick have been working since last January when we opened our office in the city – visiting every primary school and linking with secondary schools, parents and agencies involved in the welfare of children” he added.

NEWB work showing positive results

Over 50 children were identified as not having a post primary place available to them from September. Educational Welfare Officers have been working in recent months providing assistance and advice to these families in securing places and supporting them with their appeals where applications for admission have been turned down.

Officers have been very involved in each case – by letter, phone calls and home visits – advising and assisting parents in preparing applications and appeals to school boards of Management, Limerick VEC and the Department of Education and Science.

The result is that only 28 pupils now remain to be provided with second-level education from September.

"And the NEWB will do its best to ensure that they will receive that education” Eddie Ward said.

Co-operation still needed in best interests of children

"The recent progress is due entirely to the goodwill and cooperation of parents and schools in the Limerick area” Eddie Ward said. “However, a lot of work remains to be done and the NEWB is calling on parents and schools to work together to ensure that all children secure a school place” he added.

"This week, we have sent letters to parents of the 28 students still without places for September with advice on the next steps to be taken” he said.

"By the end of June” Eddie Ward stated “we will know the final number of pupils still without places and we will be making specific arrangements together with the Department of Education and Science to arrange for second-level education for those children."

Mr Ward also welcomed the Minister’s recent initiative to convene a meeting of all relevant interests in the Limerick area so that similar difficulties do not recur in the future.