Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for the response I appreciate the consideration she has given to it. It is important to note we are not just talking about the main towns of Newbridge and Kildare but also smaller areas in the vicinity such as Athgarvan, Lackagh, Milltown, Suncroft and Nurney, which have no secondary schools and are completely reliant on school places in Newbridge and Kildare town. I appreciate that there are ongoing discussions with school boards of management.However, I honestly do not understand why that is taking so long because ultimately we know the number of children who are in sixth class in each school within the vicinity of the secondary schools. Therefore, we should have access to that data, and planning should be starting 12 months before it currently is. Forward planning is hugely important but it starts too late.

I was speaking to a principal last week who said that around 1 December, when the first round of offers have been given and accepted or refused, there should be a high level of knowledge of where we stand. I ask the Minister of State to tell the Department that it should give a strong message before Christmas on the timeline of when parents will know they will have a guaranteed place for their children for next September, albeit it may not be their first choice but absolutely that they have a place.