Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

No.

I want to raise an issue which is covered by The Irish Times today, the challenge of rapidly growing areas and ensuring there is an adequate number of school places. I raised this issue in the House in a Commencement matter last week. There is a significant problem, particularly in what we might call the wider commuter belts around our cities, ensuring that we have an adequate number of primary and second level school places. I request a debate with the Minister, Deputy Foley, specifically on this issue.

We have seen challenges faced by counties Wicklow, Wexford, Kildare and Meath where we have seen rapid growth in population. Despite this the number of school places does not always keep up with that rapid growth. I am particularly conscious of places like Arklow, which, because of a wastewater treatment plant, is going to rapidly expand. Coláiste Bhríde in Carnew is looking to rapidly expand from the old 1930s building. It has planning permission yet progress still has not been made. It is important that the Minister, Deputy Foley, comes into the House to talk about the impact on areas such as north Wexford and south Wicklow and, indeed, right around the country and that we get an outline of the forward planning unit's decision and of where we are going to see those schools built. It is critical that we are able to guarantee every child and young person in this State access to a place in a school in their local area.