Warnings of shortfall in Kildare school places in the coming years

A newly elected Kildare TD has called for major forward planning in Kildare to avoid a significant shortfall in school places over the coming years.

Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly says the ongoing rapid population growth in Kildare will result in a major shortfall in school places in the county in the coming years. 

Deputy Farrelly will address the matter in the Dail today, Thursday, February 13 and will engage in the coming weeks with the Minister for Education.

“Every year this comes up with parents and families who are struggling to secure a good education for their children,” said Deputy Farrelly.

“And with the population growth in Kildare at the moment – while welcome in many ways – it is inevitable that the existing shortage of school places will become more and more acute in the years to come.

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“In the past few days I’ve met with parents in Prosperous, Clane and Straffan, who are dealing with a narrowing of available places in surrounding secondary schools, so I’m calling on the Department of Education’s Forward Planning Team to address the issue in Kildare in particular.”

He added: “There is also a particular issue with regards to special education places - whether that's children in special units or those who work with SNAs – whose transition from primary to secondary has been affected.

“Students who require this kind of support will essentially be in a unit for five years in secondary school, and if the unit is at capacity then no one will leave it for five years, so there can be no further intake.

“I will be pushing for a long term plan to be developed and implemented that is capable of meeting the current and future educational needs of our children."