Fianna Fáil councillors in Kilkenny call for extra city school places

Fianna Fáil councillors, Andrew McGuinness and Joe Malone have called for extra school places to be made available in Kilkenny City as some city students are forced to travel further afield for their education. 

Last week, Minister for Education, Norma Foley, announced CBS Kilkenny, Presentation Secondary School and St Canice's Primary School were granted major funding for new development projects which will increase their pupil intake.

However, despite the welcome news, Cllr McGuinness and Mayor Malone believe more action is required.

"Kilkenny City is crying out for more school places. We need new schools badly as we see city based children having to travel around the country for school as city places are so limited," Cllr McGuinness said, adding, the announcement was 'great news for Kilkenny' and a 'very positive start.'

"While I’m delighted to see this happen I would also call on our Education Minister to look at Kilkenny City with a view to increasing school places by investing in our current schools and looking at opportunities to develop new schools," Cllr McGuinness concluded.

Mayor Joe Malone shared his party colleague's sentiments, stating: "We genuinely need a new secondary school in the eastern environs, you see a lot of young people coming across from the eastern over to the western environs, we need a secondary school in the St John's Parish."