THERE are not enough non-Catholic primary schools in parts of Dublin for parents who want choice about where to enroll their children.It leaves hundreds of parents each year settling for sending their children to a school that is not of their preferred ethos.
While Catholic primary schools across a swathe of the south city can accommodate demand, those that are multi-denominational or all-Irish in particular cannot.
The lack of choice for parents is highlighted in a new survey, conducted by Labour education spokesperson Ruairi Quinn and party colleague Senator Ivana Bacik.
Eighteen of 26 primary schools in the Dublin 6 and 8 postal districts replied to the survey.
Half of the 18 schools, all under the patronage of the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, had sufficient places and do not anticipate problems in the foreseeable future.
However, the situation in the other nine schools was different and, between them, they could not accommodate 594 pupils in the current year.
"They have larger waiting lists, many of whom will not be accommodated", said Mr Quinn.
He said the nine schools that could not cater for all applicants had 918 pupils on waiting lists for next September, rising to 973 for 2011 and 947 for 2012.
The waiting lists are largest in the two multi-denominational, Educate Together schools, three Gaelscoileanna, a Church of Ireland school and a Quaker school.
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