Vol. 475 No. 5
43 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the critical shortage of adequate school places in the secondary schools in Naas, County Kildare, and the difficulties being faced by primary school leavers from the traditional catchment area, especially from Caragh, in securing second level places; the plans, if any, she has to deal with the problem; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5178/97]
There are three post-primary schools catering for pupils in the Naas catchment area. These are the convent secondary school, the CBS and the vocational school.
The indications are that the three schools have, between them, sufficient pupil places to accommodate all pupils, including those from Caragh, seeking second level places for next September. The difficulty would appear to be that some pupils are unable to gain a place in the school of first choice.
The current policy in relation to centres in which there are a number of schools, as in Naas, is to ensure that these schools can, between them, cater for all pupils from the catchment area seeking second level places. This may result in pupils not getting a place in the school of first choice. My Department must ensure, however, that existing accommodation is fully utilised before providing additional accommodation.
A building project has been approved for the convent school and this project is at tender stage. This is to enable the school to cater adequately for its current enrolment and, when completed, will not significantly alter the level of intake places available each year in the school.
