A Limerick school principal has called on the Government to introduce financial supports for teenagers living in the Direct Provision system who wish to enter third level education.
Marion Cummins was speaking after a student at her school - Coláiste Nano Nagle in Sexton Street - achieved 575 points in her Leaving Cert.
Anna Kern came to Ireland from Ukraine in 2013 and lives in Direct Provision accommodation in Knocknasheen with her mother, who is not permitted to work.
Ms Cummins said Anna has no means of paying for third-level education and claimed the Government is abandoning her.
She said that Anna is an extremely bright student, who wishes to study physiotherapy in the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, but her future looks quite bleak.
Ms Cummins called on the Government to introduce provisions for the continuation of studies for asylum seekers who have the ability and who want to learn.
According to Ms Cummins, Minister for Education Jan O'Sullivan met with Anna last week and is expected to meet her again this Friday to discuss her situation.
"If the Government are going to accept them into second-level, there should be a commitment; there should be supports going forward for these people to go into third level, particularly the students who have the ability and particularly the students who want to learn.
"They are eager to learn, they are going to stay - she is not going to go back to the country that she came from. So I think there should be provisions made for these students," she said.
