Kildare councillors: Progress on school places and provision of school buses ‘is too slow’

Progress surrounding securing school places for children and the provision of school buses in Newbridge is not good enough.

That’s according to councillors present at the latest Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District (MD) meeting, which was held on Wednesday, September 20.

Sinn Féin Cllr Noel Connolly put forward the following motion at the meeting: "That the members of the MD write to the Minister for Education, seeking a meeting to discuss school place and school bus provision within the municipal district."

His motion was seconded by Fine Gael Cllr Peggy O’Dwyer.

Cllr Connolly told Kildare County Council (KCC): "Many families have been in contact with me regarding school places, and progress is far too slow."

He said that the new school in Monasterevin 'is already at capacity', and added: "The system needs reform."

Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender also supported the motion, saying: "I know of three parents who have had to quit their jobs in order to bring their children to school."

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He further said that he knew of four students who, up until recently, had no option but to study the school curriculum at home.

Fianna Fáil Cllrs Rob Power and Anne Connolly pointed out that data gathered by the Department of Education suggests that the population of Newbridge will be met by the existing supply of primary and secondary schools.

In the case of Kildare town, it was suggested that minor expansion of school facilities could help alleviate the present issues regarding primary school places, while it is anticipated that the level of potential increase in post-primary requirements will be met by the current post-primary school and the planned post-primary school.

However, Cllr Power also called for a more streamlined process of exchanging information between schools, in order to alleviate the present issues.

Cllr Noel Connolly’s motion was ultimately put to a vote, and it was decided that the MD would write a letter to the Minister of Education regarding the issues raised.

Cllr Suzanne Doyle also requested the item to be discussed between the MD and the Department at its next scheduled meeting with KCC.