Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I assure the Deputy that we will keep it under review. The process has been conducted in a fair and objective way across the country. It has taken a four-year horizon in terms of projected needs based on demography, local authority plans and so on.

Extra school places often are delivered by extending existing schools. It is not always the case that an area's needs must be met by establishing new schools. While the announcement did not include a new post-primary school in the case of south Kildare, there is additional capacity as approximately 1,700 school places will be provided when projects at the following four schools in this area are completed, namely, St. Conleth's Community College, Newbridge; Athy Community College, Athy; Cross and Passion Secondary School, Kilcullen; and St Paul's Secondary School, Monasterevin. A building project for the Patrician College, Newbridge is also included in my Department's six year construction programme.

However, in line with the ongoing review of school planning areas generally, I can confirm that my Department is currently reviewing provision at post-primary level across the school planning areas in the south Kildare area and it is envisaged that work in this regard will be completed in the coming weeks.

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