Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)

I want to raise with the Minister of State a really urgent and time-sensitive issue. As he is well aware, Wicklow town and Rathnew have seen a huge population increase in recent years. We have probably had 800 to 1,000 new homes built there. Very many of them are family homes for young families. We have seen people coming from other counties into the area.

I was made aware last week that there is a major issue in regard to primary school places. There are six primary schools in the area: St. Coen's, St. Patrick's, Holy Rosary School, Glebe National School, Educate Together and Gaelscoil Chill Mhantáin. All six of those schools came together in January because they had identified a capacity issue. They raised concerns with the Department in January saying that they believed they would be absolutely oversubscribed for September.

Their fears have come to fruition. The Department was in contact with them and asked them to identify how many unique children who had no place were on the waiting list. They identified 119 primary school children who do not have a place in any of those six schools for September. Of the students, 36 are junior infants and the rest of them are spread across the other school years. That clearly demonstrates that these are existing families who moved into the area and might have a child in second class or fourth class. Those children need places in their hometowns. They will not be able to get to Dublin to attend school there. That is not feasible.

I ask the Minister of State and the Minister of education to send someone to sit down with the six school principals because they want to find a solution. I believe one of the schools has the capacity for an extra school class, which might suit junior infants. Obviously, someone needs to look at each of the years and work out a solution for each of those. There might be potential for some movement in other schools as well.

This also identifies a more ongoing issue. It is one we have seen in Wicklow for years. When I moved to Wicklow 15 or 16 years ago, I could not get my child into a school. The problem was starting then. There was a big population increase. What we are now seeing is that cohort and that increase in population moving from north Wicklow down and across the county. We need a new school in Newtownmountkennedy and there is certainly capacity for a new primary school in the Wicklow town and Rathnew area, but that is probably a longer discussion.

In the interim, and as an emergency need, we need a departmental official to go to Wicklow town to meet the six principals. All those schools have finished up for the summer. Those children do not know where they are going and they have to do things like getting uniforms. The children need to be prepared. They are simple things but they are so important for a good transition. Those children will not be prepared for school.

In addition, the staff will be expected to perhaps set up new classes but the schools are closed. It will be logistically difficult. I ask that a departmental official is sent immediately to sit down with those principals and come up with a solution.

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