The pressure on school places continues apace, particularly in constituencies like my own. This pressure was anticipated by many of us in this House well in advance along with the need to put in place emergency measures to deal with the situation that might arise. I am now asking that these emergency measures be activated for 2025 in sufficient time to ensure that adequate primary and second-level school places are made within reason as opposed to a situation I mentioned previously in the House where children are sent 25 or 30 miles away, which is not really an accommodation for them at all. Could this be done by way of an emergency provision?

That is a very sensible suggestion and I assure him it is one we are going to act on. The challenge is the issue of forward planning and better co-ordinating. I see a number of schools with multiple application processes in my constituency and I imagine it is very similar in Kildare. This leads to a child being on many lists. This is not to blame the parents, who are doing their best. Bringing in a centralised application process where there can be clarity far out as to how many children need a place will get a better return on our investment and, much more importantly, provide certainty for children and their parents.