Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her response and welcome the fact the Department is seeking clarity on the number of additional first year places required for 2024. The Minister of State mentioned the school planning areas. The concern I have is that my area of Maigh Cuilinn is included in a school planning area with Indreabhán and An Spidéal, even though the vast majority of students do not attend schools in An Spidéal and Indreabhán, but in Galway city. There are four schools in Maigh Cuilinn. While Scoil Bhaile Nua is a scoil lán-Ghaeilge, so perhaps the majority of its students go on to Irish-speaking secondary schools, the majority of pupils from the other schools go to Galway city. Are they being included? If the Department is not including the other three primary schools in Maigh Cuilinn - Scoil Cholmáin Tuairíní, Scoil Náisiúnta Tulach Uí Chadhain and Scoil Mhuire - in the figures, then the figures are totally inaccurate, which will have knock-on effects in Maigh Cuilinn and across the region for accessibility. This is a serious issue and it is time for the Minister and Department to take it seriously, act and ensure schools get clarity on the provision for next September.