In any decision on the closure of a school, the concern of the Minister and the Department is to ensure that there are sufficient pupil places to meet demand in a given area. The alternative choices for pupils who attend St. Brigid's are Borris vocational school and the Presentation de la Salle and vocational school in Bagenalstown. Pupils from the same primary schools that feed St. Brigid's also attend a range of other schools including Grennan College, Thomastown, Scoil Aireagail, Ballyhale and various post-primary schools in Kilkenny city as the Senator outlined in his contribution. It is to be expected that these would also be alternatives for pupils who would otherwise attend St. Brigid's.