Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I thank the Minister for taking this important issue raised by my colleague Senator O'Loughlin. The Minister will be aware that the transition from primary to secondary school should be as smooth as possible, but where a student is uncertain of having a second level place, it is stressful for the individual and their family. As Senator O'Loughlin mentioned, this is quite common in areas of rapid growth. We have experienced it in Gorey, north Wexford, particularly when there was pressure on the excellent Gorey Community School and Creagh College, but the Minister sanctioned the Gorey Educate Together Secondary School, which relieved some of the pressure at the time. I will probably be coming back to the Minister looking for a fourth second level school, given the pace of growth, within the next five years.