David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her response. I know she is aware of the unrelenting pressure on principals all this year and in previous years with respect to waiting lists. At the start of this year, some schools had 300 children on the waiting list. I know there has been duplication of enrolment with many parents applying to more than one school because they were concerned about not getting a place. I understand there are children who still have not got a place. Taking into account the huge projected growth in housing in the area, there is a need for further planning.

Carrigtwohill community school has finally started. I congratulate the Minister and her team for that. It is fantastic. I wrote to the Minister on this last week. The educate together school in east Cork is looking for a secondary school and there is an opportunity to use the old secondary school in Carrigtwohill to establish a secondary school for educate together. I know the Minister is familiar with this. It is in temporary accommodation. Will the Minister ask her officials to examine this possibility? It could happen as early as 2023 but we need to start planning ahead for it now.

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