Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

As I understand it, a total of 80 places are being made available through the Aonad. If the Deputy is suggesting the demand from the community for a gaelcholáiste is such that the Aonad is not a sufficient response, we will have to find a way of facilitating a further conversation based on an interrogation of the survey. The reply furnished to me suggests that included in the first year enrolment at the new school will be an allocation of 31 students for the all-Irish Aonad. While there is no waiting list for the Aonad, an additional 85 first year places can be filled in Maynooth community college. These places can be filled either in the Aonad, on the English language side of the school or between the two facilities, depending on demand.

Obviously, there is a gap between what the Department and the community are saying and, somehow, we are going to have to work to bridge it. I will speak with the Deputy after Question Time.

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