Michael Ahern (Cork East, Fianna Fail)

I thank my colleague, Deputy Stanton, for giving me a minute to support him in his plea for immediate and urgent works with regard to schools in the east County Cork area of Midleton, Carrigtwohill and Castlemartyr. The population in our area has doubled in recent years. Come next September, there will be a shortage of places, particularly for boys, in Midleton's secondary schools, which take in Carrigtwohill. In fact, 48 students will come from Carrigtwohill national school, almost double the figure of recent years. The situation is urgent.

The Minister, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, as the then Minister for Education and Science, produced a list in which our area was a priority, as verified tonight by Deputy Stanton. I hope that the Minister of State has received some information that will recognise the urgency of carrying out secondary schools works in our area.

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