Fianna Fáil has said that a school building programme is needed for Wexford as it becomes increasingly difficult for parents to secure school places for their children.

In a statement, Fianna Fáil TD for Wexford, James Browne, said he was "concerned" by the number of parents facing such a situation, adding that the area faces a "serious school places shortfall" in the coming years.

He has now called on the Government to deliver a secondary level school building programme to address the issue.

Deputy Browne said: "Parents living in Wexford town face serious difficulty in securing a place in secondary school for their children. Schools are over capacity and are being forced to use waiting lists to manage demand. This is a serious problem which is leading to increased hardship for parents and their children.

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"A study carried out by the Economic Strategic Policy Committee of Wexford County Council outlines that there is approximately a shortage of over 500 places in the Wexford area. This shortage is expected to grow each year as we have a young population in the area.

"It's clear that the education system in Wexford is already under pressure, but the problem is set to become much worse in the years ahead if the Government doesn't take action."

He continued: "The Department of Education continue to deny that there is a problem, but the parents who are finding it difficult to find a school place for their children know otherwise. They are being forced to send their children to schools in New Ross and Enniscorthy.

"I firmly believe that children should have the opportunity to be educated in their own local communities instead of being forced to commute long distances to schools elsewhere.

"The Government needs to come forward with a comprehensive school building programme to deal with this problem. We can't afford to wait a few years before deciding to deal with it. The problem is very real here and now and is set to get worse if action is not taken."

(JP/LM)