Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 April 2014
234. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the establishment of a Gaelscoil in the Celbridge area of County Kildare in view of the fact that parents in this area cannot access places in the surrounding areas, especially for those children born in 2009 and in 2010. [16713/14]
View answer235. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to deal with demand for Gaelscoil education in Kells and Oldcastle, County Meath; and his plans to deal with extra demand in Navan, County Meath. [16714/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 234 and 235 together.
In June 2011, I announced that some 20 new primary schools are to be established up to 2017 to cater for increasing demographics across a number of locations. That announcement did not include a proposal to establish a new school in any of the areas referred to by the Deputy. My Department continues to analyse demographic data on a nationwide basis to determine where further school accommodation might be needed. Where further new schools are being established, it will be open to all patron bodies, including all-Irish providers, to make an application for patronage in line with published criteria.
It is, of course, open to all existing schools, including Gaelscoileanna, to make an application for additional school accommodation, where this need arises. I can confirm that the existing Gaelscoil in Navan, County Meath has made no application to my Department in this regard.
