Decision on a new school for Kildare delayed says local TD

By Kim O'Leary

Fiona O’Loughlin, TD for Kildare South has advised that the Department of Education will announce their decision on a new second level school for South Kildare later than initially anticipated.

Earlier in the week Deputy O’Loughlin met the Minister for Education and Department Officials in Tullamore for an update on the structural review of schools across the country. While there O’Loughlin raised a number of issues in Kildare.

Following the meeting Deputy O’Loughlin said, “Due to the Department officials concentration on the safety issues for the impacted 42 schools nationwide, the expected announcement on a new second level school for Kildare South has been delayed by a few weeks. The Department had previously committed to making a decision by October so I wanted to make sure the second level school was still on the Minister and officials radar for decision."

Deputy O’Loughlin, Chair of the Oireachtas Education and Skills committee says “South Kildare Educate Together has been lobbying the government for years to provide a new second level educate together in Kildare. The current enrolment in schools and planned new developments which will attract more students to the area it certainly shows that a new school is absolutely needed to facilitate our youths in years to come."

“I am hopeful that the decision will be out in the middle of November and that  considerable time will be given to look at population statistics in Kildare before making their decision”, concluded Deputy O’Loughlin.