Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)

I welcome the publication of the report. However, school places continue to be a major challenge in County Laois. New classes have been granted and I welcome that. New posts have been granted, but accommodation continues to be a problem and there is no timeline for delivery, despite classes being announced. Schools are asking where they can put the classes. Offices, little school libraries, which are generally small rooms, and storage areas, including cupboards, are being used as classrooms.

Killeshin National School got two special classes. There are very positive staff there and a positive principal in Ms McGuill, but they are struggling now to try to get those classrooms on site and to get work done for September when the two new classes of children will land in on top of them.

I welcome that St. Francis School in Portlaoise has been granted two modular classrooms. It has been approved. The work is due to start in a few weeks. I urge the departmental officials who are here to do everything they can to advance that and give it a sense of urgency. More children are coming in this year than going out. Mr. John Moran, the principal, and the staff are doing excellent work but they only have 12 classrooms for the 19 classes. The modular classrooms need to be completed to get them by this year. Four permanent classrooms have been granted planning permission and sanctioned by the Department. Again, that is welcome, but there will be a huge enrolment in September 2026 and St. Francis School needs the extra space to meet that. Four classrooms have been sanctioned. The work is ready to go and will soon need final sign-off. Planning permission has been granted. That project needs a sense of urgency now to ensure St. Francis School is able to take all those additional pupils in September 2026. The two modular classrooms are needed this September.

Anything the officials can do to advance these projects would be welcome and appreciated by the boards of management, staff and parents.

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