Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I was closely involved with former Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, a predecessor of the Minister's, in getting the school approved for Kingscourt. There was much cynicism that there was no need for a school in the area. The projection at the time by the Department and the vocational education committee was that an enrolment of 450 would be adequate capacity. Thankfully, the current enrolment is 530 and the projected enrolment for 2024 is 815. Thankfully, there is substantial employment in the area. There has been significant growth in population and each of the feeder primary schools has recorded a growth in enrolment in recent years. With the continuation in movement of population to the area and in light of the number of houses being built there, it is evident that the feeder primary schools will continue to grow, which will provide more and more students for Coláiste Dún an Rí. I had the opportunity to visit the school some months ago after classes had finished for the day and I saw at first hand the pride that the principal and all the staff take in ensuring that the best possible educational services are delivered to all students attending the school.

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