A distraught Galway mother has been left ‘begging’ for a second-level place for her son as city schools creak under the pressure of increasing demand.

The city resident, who wished to remain anonymous, broke down as she told the Galway City Tribune of the strain on her family as she and her husband scramble to find a school for her son who has significant medical challenges.

Such is the seriousness of the situation facing Galway parents that the Department of Education has confirmed it is carrying out an analysis of all secondary school applications in the city in an effort to address the dearth of places.

The distressed parent described the situation as “shameful”, having been met by restrictive admission policies in some schools and wating lists in the hundreds for others.

“I just can’t believe that in this day and age, I am having to beg for an education for my child,” she said.

Her son is in sixth class at a city centre school and despite having submitted applications to several secondary schools last October when admissions opened, he remains the only child in his class without a place.

“Because I’m a woman and obviously didn’t attend any of the all-boys schools, he’s not entitled to a place in some schools. His dad is from abroad. He would get a place if he had a sibling in a school but because he’s the oldest, all we’re left with is this lottery.

“We were told not to bother for one school [which gives preference to family members of former students] because they only had one space available when admissions opened. The others filled up – one had a waiting list with nearly 400 on it,” she said.

The mother-of-two said her health was suffering as a result of the situation, while her child had the anguish of not knowing where he will be going to school next September.
This is a shortened preview version of this story. To read the rest of the article, see the February 23 edition of the Galway City Tribune. You can support our journalism and buy a digital edition HERE.