I propose to take Questions Nos. 172 and 180 together.
In 2011 the establishment of 20 new post-primary schools was announced across a number of locations nationwide to cater for increased student numbers, including a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school to be established in Maynooth in 2014. Following completion of a patronage process in 2012, Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (formerly County Kildare VEC) was announced as patron of the school, which opened with an Irish-medium Aonad in 2014. The Community College was established on the basis that it would be a separate entity from the existing post-primary school and would provide for all years from First to Sixth Year, when fully developed.
As an interim measure, pending delivery of a permanent school building, the Community College has been sharing premises with Maynooth Post-Primary School. The project providing for two new post-primary school buildings to cater for each of these schools is continuing to progress to schedule. My Department and the local ETB, to whom the project has been devolved for delivery, are closely monitoring the project in the context of the main contractor having recently entered examinership.
