Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Every five years we are asked to fill out a census of population form so that the Government can plan for services. We are told that this is the reason people are asked to fill out the census form, which I would encourage everyone to do. However, there is no real evidence that there is a follow through in relation to services. In Kildare there is a real crisis in school places at both primary and secondary level. There are 15 secondary schools in my constituency but 13 of the 15 are completely full. People are getting multiple rejections although I understand that the second round eliminates that and some of it is to do with how the application system works. Can the Taoiseach give a guarantee that every child will get a secondary school place this year in Kildare? I understand there is a particular pinch point but what is the point in filling out a census form if the Department of Education's planning unit does not know how to count?

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