Parents begin five-night vigil to secure places for their children in Tralee secondary school

PARENTS HOPING to enrol their children for 2010 in Kerry's biggest secondary school, Mercy Secondary School, Mounthawk, Tralee…

PARENTS HOPING to enrol their children for 2010 in Kerry's biggest secondary school, Mercy Secondary School, Mounthawk, Tralee, began queuing yesterday to secure places.

Enrolment for 2010 opens next Wednesday.

The school gives priority to children attending Mercy Primary schools, after which it operates a first-come, first-enrolled policy.

Siblings are also given priority where the number of applicants exceeds places.

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Some 50 parents began queuing yesterday.

According to one parent who intended staying put for the next five days, the wait would be worth it.

"This is the best school and I want to give my child the best education," she said.

Management at the school recently said they were considering changes to the enrolment policy to prevent what is now an annual queue by parents for the school.

While serving as minister for education, Mary Hanafin denied there was a shortage of places for secondary schools in Tralee.