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

I thank the Minister for the information. It is very helpful and beneficial that we know what is going on. I have worked hand-in-hand with the Minister since she became a member of Cabinet with responsibility in this area. However, we acknowledge that in east Cork, and particularly across Cork county, there is rapid population growth. For example, the Fermoy area now has a deficit of school places for the first time. We knew this was a big issue around the Carrigtwohill and Glanmire areas and down to Midleton, which Deputies Pádraig O'Sullivan and Stanton and I represent across our two respective constituencies. It is an area with enormous population growth. It is worrying to see this problem now in the Fermoy area and in Fermoy town. It is imperative that the Department's building unit and, hopefully, the Minister as well, can acknowledge that this population growth is causing problems and we need additional school places and to deliver the promised school projects, which are fantastic. They take some time to deliver, however. Progress has been made, but we are asking for further progress in areas where issues are now starting to occur for the first time.

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