Portiuncula doctor's plea over lack of primary school place for his daughter
A Portiuncula University Hospital paediatrician has outlined the "desperate situation" facing his daughter, who has been unable to access a primary school place in Ballinasloe.
Dr Alam Naveed said he is at pains to find a solution to his eleven-year-old daughter Eshal's predicament, but as of yet there has been no sign of a positive outcome.
"We live within 100 metres of Creagh National School, but unfortunately there is no place for Eshal there at the moment, as they are oversubscribed with student numbers," Dr Naveed said.
Eshal is a former student of Creagh National School, but the family moved to the UK in early 2019 where Dr Naveed continued his medical training.
"We returned from the UK at the end of 2024. I had a job offer in Drogheda but because we knew the local community in Ballinasloe we opted to return to the town and I returned to my medical role in Portiuncula," Dr Naveed said.
Prior to the family's return, Dr Naveed contacted Creagh NS but was informed that there was no room for Eshal to continue her education there.
"We were unfortunately informed in February that the school is oversubscribed and that there would be no place in sixth class for Eshal," Dr Naveed added.
Eshal is currently fifth on the school’s waiting list but Dr Naveed is unsure when she might receive a call to say that a place has been made available to her.
"I realise that there is a process to follow, but we are frustrated as a family that Eshal is receiving no education at the moment," Dr Naveed said.
Eshal's mother, Dr Saba Naveed, is based in a medical practice in Athlone and with both parents working long hours, Dr Naveed said that attending Creagh NS would be the "ideal situation" for the family.
"Eshal has three siblings, one of whom is autistic, while my mother, who is undergoing dialysis at the moment also lives with us. There are a lot of complex circumstances in the home at the moment, so it is vital that Eshal returns to education and starts to have a more settled life," Dr Naveed said.
Dr Naveed is in regular contact with the school.
"We have tried different primary schools in Ballinasloe but with no success. Allowing for our working schedules, we would prefer that Eshal returns to Creagh National School as it is within walking distance of our home," Dr Naveed said.
In a "worst-case scenario" Dr Naveed stated that it was possible that he and his family could return to the UK to allow Eshal continue her education, but he hopes that this does not come to pass.
"All Eshal wants to do is go to school and learn. She is suffering. At the age of 11 you should be learning, making friends and developing your social skills. You can't do this when you are sitting at home on a daily basis," Dr Naveed said.
Dr Naveed said he will continue to "knock on all doors necessary" to achieve a resolution to his daughter's predicament.
"The situation feels quite helpless at the moment. We just need it resolved as soon as possible, for Eshal and for all our family’s cause," Dr Naveed concluded.
When contacted, Creagh National School principal Áine Ní Cholleráin said that the school was not in a position to comment on individual cases.
"There is a waiting list in place for classes in our school and some classes are at full capacity. Our school strictly and fairly follows an admission policy and procedures at all times and there is an official appeals process for all parents to follow," the school principal said.