Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister's reply is very similar to what we heard when the initial announcement was made, which I accept was very welcome. The only new or additional information in his reply is that the Department of Education and Skills has written to the Department of Defence. It would be appropriate to inquire if a reply has been received. The other two Deputies representing Kildare South and myself had a meeting with the Minister for Defence two years ago to see if there was an opportunity to secure a site, but there was no progress on foot of that meeting. This is a major problem. Statistics show that Kildare South is the fastest growing area in the country. Between 2011 and 2016, the population of the area grew at 143% of the State's growth rate. In that period, the population of children of school going age grew at an even higher rate. The South Kildare Educate Together, SKET, report, which was sent to the Minister and to his predecessor, noted that by 2025 there would be at least 415 students without a school place in south Kildare.

This issue has reached crisis point. Some of the feeder schools that are included, such as the Cross and Passion College in Kilcullen, cater for a large area, including children from areas such as Dunlavin in Wicklow. It is not only for people from Kildare. Kildare Town Educate Together national school will see its first cohort of sixth class pupils finish in the next few weeks. Newbridge Educate Together school's sixth class students still do not have an option to continue their education in that ethos. What does the Minister expect parents to do in September of this year when their children are supposed to start secondary school in the area but simply cannot find a place?

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