Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this matter. I am sorry the Minister is not here to take the debate as he, rather than the Minister of State, is the Minister responsible. I thank the Minister for the provision he has made for north Kildare with two new second-level schools in Maynooth, and a second level and new primary school in Celbridge.

Cóláiste Cois Life was established in 1997 to serve the needs of west Dublin and north Kildare. It has been repeatedly stated that this was the purpose, including very recently in answer to a parliamentary question from my colleague, Deputy Bernard Durkan, to the Minister for Education and Skills who said the school was for students from north Kildare and west Dublin. However, a new enrolment policy has been put in place by Cóláiste Cois Life which excludes north Kildare students. All-Irish schools in Celbridge, Leixlip and Maynooth are now excluded from that post-primary all-Irish school. These three schools have no outlet to a second-level school.

The Minister has stated repeatedly that he will make provision if there is a proven need; there is now a need proven. I propose to the Minister that the provision can be achieved at a minimal cost. It is accepted that Cóláiste Cois Life is full. Maynooth post-primary school will be empty shortly because although it is a fine structure it is not fit for purpose for the post-primary general school. The Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board is prepared to make it available for use as an all-Irish second-level school in north Kildare. In September 2014, the sixth class students from the three primary schools will have nowhere to go. I suggest that the vacant prefabs in Cóláiste Cois Life could be used on a temporary basis until the post-primary school building in Maynooth is available, which is expected to be shortly. I ask the Minister of State not to tell us about Aonad because this is not an acceptable alternative to a full immersion in an all-Irish system. The secondary schools in Naas and Clondalkin might as well be on Mars because there is no public transport from north Kildare to either place and the Minister of State will not provide school buses from north Kildare to those schools.

I know the Minister is a reasonable and practical man. I am making a very positive proposal which will deal with the issue at minimal cost and I ask him to consider it.

See this speech in context