Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Less than five months remain until the school opens in September. It is disappointing that the name of the patron will not be released as quickly as we had hoped. When I tabled a parliamentary question on this in late February, the Minister indicated that an announcement was only a matter of weeks away. He will understand that this is concerning for parents who are left in a limbo not knowing whether their children will have a school place or what the position will be next September. I outlined a number of the parents' concerns in my initial contribution and I seek clarification again. How long it is expected the children will be in the temporary building? If the demand is greater than more than one class, will a second class be provided? If parents have expressed an interest in one of the patrons that is not successful, where do they stand in respect of the other patrons if they are selected?

The special educational needs issue is important. Under the new allocation model, the school will not have a baseline or latest history or any social context as it is starting out new. This issue needs to be addressed upfront. The fact that it was not part of the briefing for a new school is further concerning. It should have been a matter for priority when there were a small number of schools in this bundle. There are only four schools in the bundle that is being reviewed. There were numerous submissions for the other three schools but there were only three for Ballincollig. Can the name of the patron of the Ballincollig school be released in advance if decisions on any of the other schools are holding back such an announcement? If a decision is ready to go on it and the decisions on the other schools are holding it back, can the Minister release the Ballincollig decision?

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