Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Sep 1997

Vol. 480 No. 6

Written Answers - School Placement.

Emmet Stagg

Question:

543 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education if his attention has been drawn to the fact that parents of young children in the Naas area of County Kildare are being refused places in local national schools due to overcrowding in view of the fact that there are further plans for additional private housing in the area; the plans, if any, he has to provide the required additional national school places in Naas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15206/97]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

603 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if his attention has been drawn to the fact that school authorities in the Naas, Sallins and Kill area of County Kildare are unable to facilitate children from their catchment areas due to a lack of accommodation at both primary and secondary level; the proposals, if any, he has for the resolution of the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14785/97]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

607 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which he has evaluated the educational requirements in the Naas, Johnstown and Kill areas of County Kildare in relation to determining the primary and secondary level school place requirements; the proposals, if any, he has to address the need for extra school places in the area; if there is a strategic plan to address the issue; when extra places will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14789/97]

Minister for Education (Mr. Martin):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 543, 603 and 607 together.

In the light of applications from all three post-primary schools in Naas for the provision of increased accommodation, the Planning Section of my Department undertook a major review to determine the short, medium and long-term needs of these schools. This review was subsequently extended to include the future accommodation needs of primary schools in the Naas post-primary school catchment area, including those in the areas referred to by the Deputies.

The review is now well advanced and when completed and assessed, the planning section of my Department will be in contact with the schools. I can assure the Deputies that I am aware of the situation and that there will be no undue delay in the matter.