Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Following a very long and intensive lobbying campaign by South Kildare Educate Together, parents in the community and public representatives, including myself, last November the very welcome news was announced that a new 1,000 pupil school would be established in the Curragh, Kildare, Newbridge area. The proposed school would take in the existing ETB school at the Curragh and discussions would commence with Educate Together on joint patronage of a newly built school. This is what campaigners had sought because there are two Educate Together primary schools in the area, in Newbridge and Kildare. The proposed amalgamation was really good news. It was hoped that the new school would accommodate increasing numbers of people living in the area, both now and into the future. However, I am absolutely frustrated by the responses I have received from the Department of Education and Skills to questions regarding the progress that has been made to date on securing a site for the new school building. I am also frustrated by responses to my queries regarding the timelines for site acquisition, construction and opening the new school. We are already six months into 2019 and it seems as if nothing as been done since the announcement in late 2018.

At this point in time, parents are incredibly frustrated. In Newbridge, I am inundated with parents coming to me who have no school place for their children this year, the following year or the year after that. St. Conleth’s community school, the Patrician boys primary schools and the convent secondary school are full for September of this year and for the following year, and they have waiting lists. We are facing a crisis at this point in time.

I cannot understand why we are not getting any information. I have also asked for details of correspondence between the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Defence because it was intimated there was the possibility of the Department of Defence providing a site within the Curragh area for this proposed school. At this stage it is a real concern for parents and the school community in the existing school. What assurances can the Minister give me today for the concerned parents and school community? We are not getting any updates on the progress being made in securing a new site. I have put forward suggestions. I have gone out and looked at potential sites and forwarded that information to the Department but I have not received a response. We cannot afford to let so much time go by. The Minister will be aware of the delays to St. Paul's school project in Monasterevin, which has not helped matters. Children from Kildare are looking for school places in Laois and in nearby counties. What assurances can the Minister give to the parents who find themselves in this situation?

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. As she may be aware, my Department recently completed a review of provision at post-primary level across the school planning areas in the south Kildare area. My Department is satisfied that the needs in the area can be met through the replacement and expansion of the existing Curragh post-primary school with a new 1,000 pupil school building. It is intended that the expansion of the existing Curragh post-primary school, a multi-denominational community college under the patronage of Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board, will also cater for demand arising in the adjoining Newbridge and Kildare school planning areas. Pending delivery of the new school, there is capacity in the existing Curragh post-primary school building.

A new site will be required for the new school and my Department has commenced the site identification process. In line with protocols for the use of State property assets, my Department has written to the Department of Defence inquiring if the Department is in a position to provide a site that could be suitable. Due to commercial sensitivities surrounding site acquisitions in general, I cannot comment further at this point in the process, although I can assure the Deputy that my Department is making every effort to progress the matter.

Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister's reply is very similar to what we heard when the initial announcement was made, which I accept was very welcome. The only new or additional information in his reply is that the Department of Education and Skills has written to the Department of Defence. It would be appropriate to inquire if a reply has been received. The other two Deputies representing Kildare South and myself had a meeting with the Minister for Defence two years ago to see if there was an opportunity to secure a site, but there was no progress on foot of that meeting. This is a major problem. Statistics show that Kildare South is the fastest growing area in the country. Between 2011 and 2016, the population of the area grew at 143% of the State's growth rate. In that period, the population of children of school going age grew at an even higher rate. The South Kildare Educate Together, SKET, report, which was sent to the Minister and to his predecessor, noted that by 2025 there would be at least 415 students without a school place in south Kildare.

This issue has reached crisis point. Some of the feeder schools that are included, such as the Cross and Passion College in Kilcullen, cater for a large area, including children from areas such as Dunlavin in Wicklow. It is not only for people from Kildare. Kildare Town Educate Together national school will see its first cohort of sixth class pupils finish in the next few weeks. Newbridge Educate Together school's sixth class students still do not have an option to continue their education in that ethos. What does the Minister expect parents to do in September of this year when their children are supposed to start secondary school in the area but simply cannot find a place?

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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To reiterate, the Department and the Government are committed to the new post-primary school in the Curragh. I appreciate that when diggers are not on site it can lead to frustration but the commitment is very clear. We will build a new post-primary school. The way politics works, Teachtaí Dála, who are messengers of the people, do their work and raise the issue. I thank the Deputy for raising it today. When I meet Deputies from that constituency, whether it is the Ceann Comhairle or Deputy Heydon, this issue and those concerns are raised with me. That is important, and it is important to keep this issue alive. However, Department officials are in touch with the Department of Defence. It is not a question of simply producing a map. There are military installations on the Curragh, so there has to be proper consultation. It is even wider than that, however. There is consultation and communication with Kildare County Council as well. If there is information the Deputy believes is important or potential solutions, Department officials and myself are open to hearing those but I reiterate and re-emphaise that we will build a new post-primary school on the Curragh. It is needed, and it was announced towards the end of last year. That commitment is steadfast.

I appreciate the frustration of parents who wonder where students will go in the time ahead. However, it is important to point out that every effort is being made at Department level. I will ensure that the officials keep on this case and continue the communication. Unfortunately, because of commercial sensitivity, we cannot have a public forum when it comes to land and site acquisition but I assure the Deputy, the parents and the staff concerned publicly here today that we will ensure this will be a priority in the time ahead.