Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is nothing in the Department's response that I did not hear six months ago, when I last raised the issue. I had hoped that there would have been some update on the proposed new school. I note the Minister of State mentioned data from a range of sources, including child benefit and school enrolment data. Of course that is important but 1,500 new homes are being built in Newbridge and I think there is close to 1,000 new houses in Kildare town, so a new school is hugely important to both towns as well as to the Curragh. The principal of the existing school has not had any contact from the Department in the last six months nor a map, which I mentioned earlier, that shows where the proposed first modular buildings and then the permanent building would be. Obviously planning permission must be sought from Kildare County Council for the modular buildings. Also, there is no notice about the location of the entrance, exits, etc. That information is hugely important for transport that must go in and out of the school. I ask the Minister of State to ask the Minister for Education to ensure the principal and patron of the school receive the information as soon as possible.