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

I thank the Minister of State for a comprehensive reply. In it, he identified all of the pinch points that are already visible and causing problems. The Minister of State is correct. There has been huge investment. However, even new schools that have been built recently are now overflowing and there is difficulty for pupils in catchment areas in gaining access to those schools. In some cases, decisions have been made by the planning section to move a child to a different school, thereby creating a further catchment area that will disrupt the entire system if it is allowed to continue.

At this stage, there is evidence to show that schools are overflowing. St. Farnan's Post Primary school and new post primary schools in Maynooth are facing difficulties. There are difficulties in Straffan and Clane, as well as in all the other places Minister of State mentioned. In Naas, the Mercy Convent School has sat half-finished and idle for the past couple of years. It is vital that work is ongoing in order to meet the challenge. If we do not meet that challenge between now and next September, we will fall further back because the population is growing more rapidly than we are able to build for it.

The Minister of State identified all of the crucial areas. I ask that the planning and development section goes to work immediately to meet the challenges that are there now for mainstream pupils, as well as children with special needs who need attention more quickly because parents are under pressure to ensure that, as far as they can, they get a reasonably good education.

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