Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I live in a constituency that has a rapidly expanding population way ahead of what was anticipated even in the recent past. There are a number of schools about which parents are concerned. I am going to one of those meetings tonight in Prosperous. Parents are concerned about the schedule for the provision of a new post-primary school, the provision of school transport associated with the catchment area and the provision of primary and post-primary schools in accordance with the expanding population to meet its needs. There is the added problem of the needs of children who require special needs accommodation, teaching facilities, teachers and assistants. That causes a worry for parents, all of whom are working under pressure and facing cost-of-living increases. They are concerned that next September might cause a problem for them based on the information available so far, which nobody seems to be able to grasp the answers to. Will the Taoiseach join the Minister for Education and assist in every way possible to ensure the provisions urgently required are met in time for the coming school year?

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