Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I would like to make a point in support of Deputy Byrne. Sometimes there is a lack of consultation with local communities about the proposed use of an old school. I have, however, seen really good results. For example, in Rathangan where I am from, the old vocational school became a day care centre. Step-down housing was also built for old people, which was fantastic. The new boys' school is due to be opened on 16 June this year. They moved from a boys' school that was built 30 years ago and which has been flattened. It is interesting to note that we have an old boys' school which was built around the 1850s that is still in use for a community purpose. It is regrettable that more exploration was not done with the community on possible uses for a building. To be fair, part of the reason was that it was for a sports field. There was a use for the land but there could have been more negotiation on the idea of providing adjacent land and using the building for something else. I just wanted to make that point.