Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This is the second time Deputy Durkan and I have tabled a Topical Issue on this issue. I cannot stress enough how important this is to the three schools concerned, St. Raphael's Special School, Scoil Naomh Pádraig and Celbridge Community School. It is important not just for the schools, but the children who attend and have yet to attend, their families and the entire community.

The process has been going on and on with Kildare County Council for the past few years. We have now been told that the county council has finished its involvement in the process. I am sure the Minister of State will understand how anxious we, the schools and the principals are to move with all speed to the commencement date for the building work that needs to take place. It is vitally important that the principals of the three schools are involved because they are the experts.

I wrote to the Minister two weeks ago to ask for a meeting and, as Deputy Durkan said, that meeting will take place next week. We appreciate that. It is important that the principals also attend the meeting because they are the experts. We need to move with all haste. Celbridge is a thriving and vibrant town and community, and the three schools need to be built.

I have always wondered why there is no proper forward planning in the Department of Education. Maynooth University, in my home town, publishes reports and we know how many children there are in a given area. I do not see why there cannot be some forward planning in the provision of schools. It is good to see us working together on this. The four Deputies in the constituency are anxious about this. I look forward to the response from the Minister of State.

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