Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The review is ongoing. We will monitor it very closely. Last Friday, I was in Limerick where there is already a big cohort of schools in the national bundle. They were not among the 42 schools, as the Acting Chairman pointed out. There was a focus on the numbers with regard to the capital plan. If we look at Ennis - the Acting Chairman mentioned Gorey - we must keep this under constant review. From my empirical data and conversations with colleagues, planning permission applications are coming in fast and furious. To use Gorey as an example, if there is an increase in the number of housing estates and the amount of development there, then the school must have a plan for the next five to ten years. If we consider the road infrastructure, with a clear run it is an hour between Dublin and Gorey. It becomes an appetising prospect to move to an area in which lower house-purchasing costs apply.

Gorey has two very good schools. Creagh college has capacity for 1,000 students and increased capacity for 1,200 students. It will be able to meet capacity this year and next year. There is also Gorey community school, which is maxed out at present.