James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for being here so late at 11.50 p.m. Three days from now will mark the fifth month since the Government's formation. Since her appointment to the Cabinet, I have engaged with the Minister on the school capacity problem in east Cork. Without doubt, it is one of the worst capacity problems in the country. Approximately 100 children in my constituency are without a school place for the second year in a row. The issue rose to prominence around this time last year when I was first elected to Cork County Council. When engaging with parents, teachers and students, I found the upset and anger on the ground all around my constituency extraordinary. This was particularly the case among parents living in the Midleton and Carrigtwohill areas as well as the small towns and villages in rural communities surrounding that part of my constituency. The Minister is familiar with that part of the world from her time as a teacher.

This problem is concerning. Both of us inherited a mess in the sense that, under previous Governments, little action was taken by what is now the Department of Education to foresee the current situation. From my discussions with highly experienced educators in my constituency, areas in Cork East have been badly affected by the failure to consider data from the Central Statistics Office and instead used housing data, which were not reflective of the population statistics in Cork. Cork has one of the youngest populations in the country. Cork East, which I am proud to represent, has a 10% growth rate. The national rate is 3% to 4%, although that changes each year. This has caused a major problem, one that is stressful for the children, their teachers and their schools.

We must recognise that the schools have been put in a difficult position. There is no doubting that. They have dealt with the situation in the most diligent way possible. In discussing this matter in the Dáil, it is imperative to acknowledge the work being done by principals, teachers, boards of management and parents' associations across east Cork. There is serious pressure on them to try to accommodate the children.

I must be fair. I have worked with the Minister and she has been diligent in her responses to me so far, but frustration is now boiling over in east Cork. Parents want answers as to where their children will get school places. They expect me as their local Deputy to provide them with answers, which is only fair, and I am here with the Minister so late at night to try to get those answers.

It would be beneficial were the Department to examine east Cork and acknowledge the situation on the ground. An increasing number of housing developments will be built throughout east Cork. A new town is even being planned at Water-rock. The Department needs to see this situation for the emergency it is and treat it with the urgency it deserves. Will the Minister visit east Cork to meet the principals, parents' associations representatives and boards of management so that she can have a better understanding of the situation on the ground?

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