402 ROI pupils attend schools here

Education Minister John O’Dowd revealed the extent of cross-border traffic in response to an Assembly Question from Londonderry MLA Mark H. Durkan.

He said the option was already open to pupils from the Republic who can apply for admission to attend post-primary schools here.

“Currently 402 young people who live in the south attend post-primary schools here and all applicants for the 2011/12 school year were accepted for places.

This is reflective of how people in the border areas live and avail of services, including education,” said the Minister.

“My Department and the Department of Education and Skills are both planning for schools into the future and it is important to do so in a sustainable way that is able to meet parental preference in the border region.

“At the North South Ministerial Council education sectoral meeting in February 2012 it was agreed that the Departments will jointly conduct a survey in the autumn of potential cross border pupil movement to inform school planning,” he said.