Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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100. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 16 December 2016, when he expects to be in a position to accept the sufficient feasibility of the Irish-medium Aonad at a school (details supplied); if he will formally approve the go-ahead for the north Kildare Gaelcholáiste; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2055/17]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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118. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the extent to which plans remain on target to open a gaelcholáiste to serve the area of north Kildare in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2212/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 118 together.

Maynooth Community College opened in 2014 with an Irish-medium Aonad. It was stated that should the Aonad demonstrate sufficient viability after four years from its date of establishment, a Gaelcholáiste would be established.

As part of the November 2015 announcement on the new primary and post-primary schools to open in 2017 and 2018, and in view of the continued support for a Gaelcholáiste, it was confirmed that a Gaelcholáiste to serve the North Kildare area will open in 2019, subject to the continued viability of the Irish-medium Aonad at Maynooth Community College.

In this regard, my Department will continue to work closely with the Education and Training Board and An Foras Pátrúnachta in relation to the establishment of the Gaelcholáiste.