Children leaving Roan St Patrick's Primary School in Eglish remain without suitable post-primary placements for September, Mid Ulster District Council has been told.

Sinn Féin councillor Gael Gildernew told the May 28 meeting that several families had been directed towards Catholic schools in Coalisland, Cookstown and Magherafelt. She described these options as unrealistic due to distance and transport difficulties.

Parents have been advised that transport assistance may take the form of a parental payment rather than a direct bus service. This does not resolve the logistical challenges for families with younger children attending other schools, the councillor said.

St Ciaran's College in Ballygawley, the nearest Catholic post-primary, has already taken on significant additional pupils including more than 30 extra in 2025. The school was identified in 2022 as requiring a capital build project, but no progress has been made, and some pupils are now being taught in unsuitable accommodation.

The situation points to a failure in long-term area planning for enrolment growth, the councillor said. She asked the council to write to the Education Minister, the Education Authority and the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools, seeking urgent engagement on post-primary capacity, admissions pressures, transport provision and forward planning.