Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis An Teachta arís. I am grateful to him for giving me the opportunity to outline the position with respect to primary and post-primary school demand in north Kildare on behalf of the Minister for Education. As I have outlined, there is a strong pipeline of projects being delivered across the schools in the area and these are delivering significant additional capacity to meet the needs of students at primary and post-primary level and of students with special educational needs, including a new 1,000-pupil school building for St. Farnan's Post Primary School in the Prosperous-Clane school planning area, a new 16-classroom for Scoil Naomh Padraig in Celbridge and an new 1,000-pupil school building for Naas Community College.

Again I inform the Deputy that the Department of Education has been in contact with schools and patrons and is aware of the evolving situation with respect to first-year places throughout the school planning areas in north Kildare for September 2024. The critical next step it the prompt provision by the schools of clear data on the applications for admissions and engagement with the schools and patrons is ongoing in that respect. It is really critical that information comes forward. Officials from the Department will continue to liaise with each of the patrons of the schools with a view to finding a workable solution to ensure no student is without a place for September 2024. The priority for the Department is to ensure there are places available for every student for the next school year and it will continue to engage with patrons and school authorities in this regard. I expect there will be further clarity provided to families and schools in the communities in the coming weeks. I hope that is of assurance to the Deputy and the communities he represents.

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