Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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75. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has carried out a review of the need for a new secondary school (details supplied) in County Kildare. [47537/18]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is currently advancing building projects in a number of post-primary schools in the South Kildare school planning areas, including the area referred to by the Deputy, and these projects, when completed, will provide additional capacity in the region of 1,700 school places.

I recently announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019-2022). In addition to the new schools announced, there will be a need for further school accommodation in other areas in the future. While this announcement did not include a new post-primary school in the area referred to by the Deputy, a review of provision at post-primary school level across the school planning areas in South Kildare is now well advanced and nearing completion. The outcome of the review will be finalised and made available as soon as possible.

This review will include an assessment of the extent to which projected needs in the area will be met from the additional capacity being provided by the projects already approved and how any specific additional needs will be best catered for, recognising the importance of maintaining a balance between existing and any additional school provision.