Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I want to be associated with the votes of sympathy to Bridget and her family on the passing of her brother.

I also welcome the approval by Cabinet of the Gambling Regulation Bill. In particular, I want to again thank the Minister of State, Deputy James Browne, for his considerable work on this. Along with colleagues and the Leas-Cathaoirleach, a number of us in this House have raised gambling addiction over the past two years. This is a very positive step forward. I look forward to this House debating that particular Bill in the coming weeks and participating on it. It is a good day for those many people who have fallen to addiction and indeed their families and communities.

The last issue I would like to raise is the lack of school places in Kildare South. It is something that I have raised previously in this House. Oireachtas Members had a meeting with the Minister for Education approximately 12 months ago. However, we are in the same situation again, where we have parents ringing up in a very desperate state, saying that their child is number 40, 50 or 60 on a list for a secondary school place. I am aware that a 1,000-pupil school has been sanctioned for Kildare town and it is about to go to the tender stage. The problem we have is for September 2023 and indeed probably for September 2024. Something needs to happen in relation to this. I would ask that we get the Minister for Education back in again or that a meeting be convened with the Oireachtas Members in Kildare South. The desperate phone calls that I have taken over the past week from parents and journalists who are querying this issue have got to stop. It is an issue that has been prevalent in Kildare South for a number of years. The announcement of the school, as I said, is to be welcomed. However, we are left in a situation as to what parents may have to do for September of next year. In addition, parents in Newbridge are asking how they will get their children to a school in Kildare town when that school is eventually built. I would ask that the Minister comes to the House or that a special meeting is convened with Oireachtas Members again. It is a serious problem for many people at the moment.