Malcolm Byrne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Acting Chairman for the opportunity to raise the issue of the shortage of second level school places in Wexford and Gorey towns. I thank the Minister for being here to respond.

The issue of the shortage of school places in Wexford town and Gorey featured in the by-election, but this has been a live issue for a number of years. I and others have been in communication with the Department of Education and Skills and with the Minister's predecessors on this matter. The common response tends to be that the Department thinks there are enough second level places in the area. However, it clearly does not understand what is happening in Wexford and Gorey. Both are progressive and growing towns, and both primary and secondary level principals in the area know there is a problem because of the numbers coming through at primary level. Two school extensions were built in Wexford but they did not extend sufficiently to accommodate the growing number of students. A bus travels from Barntown, which is just 5 km outside of Wexford town, to New Ross every day with more than two dozen second level students so they can attend school there. There are two excellent schools in Gorey, namely, Creagh college and Gorey community school, but they have been under a lot of pressure for a number of years, about which we have been warning the Department. A sticking plaster arrangement was agreed last year to accommodate students. After speaking with the schools today, it looks like they could be short up to 69 places next year, although arrangements may be in place to accommodate them. I wanted to ask the Minister about this because he has visited the area and understands the problems first hand. Can he guarantee that every child in Wexford and Gorey towns and their immediate hinterlands will have school places in their respective towns? That is the immediate challenge.

The second matter is the longer-term challenge, because the school populations are continuing to grow. The problems of this year and next year will pale into insignificance in comparison with the numbers of pupils currently in fourth classes in the area. What provisions will the Minister make when we reach that demographic bulge? We have been seeking a second secondary school in Gorey for some time and have identified that need to the Department. Wexford County Council has said that a site is available, and if that site is not suitable, plenty of land can be zoned to facilitate that school. We need to start that process now because the planning and tendering will take some time. The key issue here is the worry it is causing parents and children who do not currently have school places. It is worrying for those who do not have an offer and are on waiting lists, but also for those with children in fifth or fourth class, as they know this problem is only going to get worse. I would be grateful if the Minister could inform us of the immediate plans for this year, as well as the long-term plans to address the demographic bulge.

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