Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)

The matter I raise revolves around educational needs in County Wexford. Some months ago, we had a discussion with the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, regarding the secondary school in Gorey. This is an interesting case because although the school was built for 900 students, it currently has an enrolment of 1,500 pupils. During our discussions with the Minister, she indicated she did not like secondary schools to have more than 750 pupils and it was not a good idea to have a primary and secondary school located on the same site.

Plans are afoot to build a new secondary school at Kilmuckridge VEC. Even if the school is built, it will not take more than 250 to 300 pupils. The Minister stated that a second secondary school should be constructed in Gorey to accommodate the additional students, rather than have such a large number of students on a single school campus, and I am prepared to take her word in this regard.

About a month ago, the Minister visited New Ross, a town with educational problems which we are trying to have resolved. The parents of pupils attending primary schools in the town and the boards of management of the schools in question have agreed to amalgamation of the schools, a conclusion also reached by the McCarthy report. As a result, the town is to have a primary school for boys and girls, respectively. During her visit, the Minister stated that all secondary schools in New Ross should be amalgamated and located on the same grounds as the new primary schools. The problem is that New Ross has five secondary schools, one of which has 600 pupils, while another has 800 pupils. The Minister's position on New Ross appears to contradict her statement on best practice made in Gorey and directly conflicts with her announcement to her party members. This contradiction has created considerable confusion in County Wexford as to what precisely is the Minister's position on school size.

The McCarthy report, which was published several years ago, has been given no support at Government level, despite representing the preferred wishes of all concerned. One cannot argue in favour of amalgamating secondary schools in New Ross, which combined have approximately 2,000 students, while arguing that another school in Gorey, which has 1,500 pupils, is so large as to require a further secondary school in the town. Will the Minister of State clarify what exactly the Department, under the current Minister, believes is the correct way forward for the educational needs of all students in County Wexford?

We fight constantly to secure an extension, a new school, additional services, resources or equipment and to reduce class sizes in our primary and secondary schools. When the Minister's statement on school crises in two different towns in the same constituency exposes such a major contradiction, it raises the question as to what is Government policy. Will the Government's position be clarified? Will it amalgamate primary schools in New Ross, as recommended in the McCarthy report, in a manner which is safe? Having just completed reading the Ferns report, it is clear children must be better looked after. What will be safe for the young students of New Ross? What is the most appropriate way to move forward with regard to the five secondary schools in the town? Will the Government provide for the building of a second school in Gorey? I hope the Minister of State does not argue the town does not deserve a second secondary school because Kilmuckridge VEC is about to be revamped, as this development will not compensate for the increase in population and rising number of pupils at Gorey secondary school.

See this speech in context