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

I support my colleague, Deputy O'Connor, on his points. East Cork is a rapidly growing area. I have spoken with the Minister about the issue of about 40 students who do not have second level school places in Midleton. I know there are some in Fermoy as well. The schools have now closed and they have no place in September. I have written to the Minister about this and I am not sure what the answer is. I have also been tabling parliamentary questions over the last number of months. It has now reached a situation where we have parents who are really distraught with no place for their children. Will the Minister use her good offices to ensure places are made available and that contact is made with the schools as soon as possible?

The other issue I want to bring to the Minster's attention is that many schools in east Cork are getting very big. They are growing to 1,300 and 1,400 pupils. Is there a limit? As Deputy O'Connor also suggested, should we be looking at another second level school in east Cork, maybe an Educate Together school, in the Midleton-Carrigtwohill area? This brings in the discussion we had earlier on diversity and that whole issue.

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