Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 January 2019
369. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if it is still his plan that the north County Kildare Gaelcholáiste will open in September 2019 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1344/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMaynooth Community College opened in 2014 with an Irish-medium Aonad and it was stated that should the Aonad demonstrate sufficient viability after four years from its date of establishment, a Gaelcholáiste would be established. As the Deputy will be aware, Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (ETB) and An Foras Pátrúnachta had been working through the practical arrangements necessary to facilitate the establishment of a new Gaelcholáiste.
My Department received correspondence from both of these parties in December 2018 and is considering same in the context of the establishment of a new Gaelcholáiste. The Department is conscious of timelines for the establishment of a new school and of the need to provide parents in the area with certainty and intends to confirm arrangements for this coming September very shortly.
