Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming to the Chamber to take this Commencement matter. We are very fortunate that she announced we would have approval for a third new second level school in Gorey. I know from engaging with her that she took an interest in this issue. Educate Together became the patron body for the school. We are now fortunate in Gorey to have three excellent second level schools, Creagh College, Gorey Community School and the new Educate Together school, under a great team led by principal, Conor Berry. I was fortunate to have visited the school. It has a student council up and running, even though it is only in its first year. It has a very active school community.

As the Minister knows, the difficulty is that the school is located in a temporary site in Creagh in Gorey. That means the current students are disadvantaged in that they have no, or very limited, access to practical classes. In science, technology and home economics the students are not getting the full experience they should get. This was accepted when the school year began in September. It was known that the school would be located in a temporary site, but commitments were given that this issue would be addressed.

I am happy to say that there is a strong demand for places in the school. We are fortunate to have a young and vibrant community, and there is significant demand for school places. It is a very good school, but it is unfair on the students concerned that they do not have access to practical spaces and that there is a lack of certainty around the location of the school site. Wexford County Council, local public representatives and anybody living locally who wants to help the Department would, as the Minister knows, be more than happy to do so. It is a question of urgency as to where the site will be. We need a permanent second level Educate Together school to be constructed. It is to be hoped that by next September the students will know will exactly where they are going.