Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My question was extremely precise. We want an update on plans for the 42 new schools. It can be assumed that I want to know how many sites have been acquired and how schools have been established. In his reply, the Minister said that areas that need new schools are being identified. We all thought that these areas had been identified. I want to know what is the status of plans. The Minister's announcement on 13 April looks like it was a public relations puff piece. There is no substance to it whatsoever. He cannot provide any update in respect of any site or any particular school.

Some of these schools are programmed to be established in September 2019. It is common for children and parents in fifth class to tour around secondary schools to decide what schools they might like to go to in particular parts of the country. That is ongoing now. It has already started. Six weeks after the announcement, the Minister will not give me any update on the schools he is establishing in September 2019. How are parents supposed to know that there may be an opportunity to attend schools? It is similar with new primary schools. There is no information for people. The patronage process will follow on very easily and quickly once the sites have been established. The challenge for the Minister is to put substance on his announcement. He failed to do that today.

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