Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Again, I thank Senator Keogan for raising the matter. It is important that we constantly review these figures and track the population. Having spent time as a Minister of State in the Department of Education, I understand the system it has. It is quite good at analysing the data and the figures, but sometimes it can miss some local information as well. It is important that we constantly have these debates to feed into that.

The Senator mentioned the site being made available by the bishop. I thank Bishop Deenihan, who we all know is very focused on education, for being co-operative and working with the local authorities, the Senator and others in the area to make sure that a site is possible. That certainly makes it easier. If the Department from its analysis of the census figures and the population trends, with the number of additional pupils coming from Ukraine and so forth added in, deems it necessary to have a new school, it is great to have a site ready. It will also speed up the process to deliver the school. We will know next year if it makes sense from a population point of view. Naturally, as a local Senator, Senator Keogan makes the case that it would and naturally, as a Meath Deputy, I recognise the need for it as well. It is to be hoped that the figures will show that too and we can get resources allocated to make it happen.