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

I thank the Minister of State for the level of detail. I recognise and understand the degree of investment that has taken place, and I have spoken to the Minister about the issue many times. There is a burgeoning population in Kildare, which creates problems that are unique to the county and, in particular, to the north of the county, which is the constituency I represent. I realise it is difficult to cross every t, dot every i and so on in the nature of things, but I am sure I have not even dealt with all the cases. My colleagues, in both north and south Kildare, will have had the same experience.

I am worried about how it has come about that a child who, for instance, wanted to gain access to Naas Community College was offered a place in Blanchardstown. The person who offered the place was under the impression they were helping, but it was no of help to the unfortunate child or their family, not to mention the fact the mother was a lone parent and had been deeply traumatised by the process up to that point. That is not the only case. There are several others, and while I will not go into detail on all of them, I am trying to emphasise that the degree of need must be taken into account when identifying a place that might be suitable for a child. It should take into account the level of convenience for the parent where the child has special needs or where aspects of the parent’s daily chores make it difficult such that they have to divide themselves between the various demands of them.

I again thank the Minister of State for his response and for taking the Topical Issue. It would be a great help if it were possible to relay to the Department the possibility of attempting to identify the most sensitive areas with a view to meeting their requirements as soon as possible.

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