Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The question I have for the Minister is quite straightforward. She speaks of the demographic analyses of her Department to project enrolment but I do not believe the basis of the calculations is correct. It needs to be adjusted. The Minister spoke about child benefit. This will still be paid regardless of whether a child lives in Wexford and then moves to Sligo. Therefore, it does not serve as the basis for something that can stand up to very much scrutiny. The reason parents are duplicating applications is that they are not confident their child will get into the nearest school to them. This was recognised in the initial stages of the school transport review. The criterion was extended to include the second-nearest post-primary school. This has been recognised by the Government over the years.

Through the 300 projects the Minister mentioned, how much additional capacity will be delivered? How much of the funding put aside in the past two years was to build or repurpose existing accommodation, and what is the existing capacity that will be delivered under that?

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