Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I support the Cathaoirleach in all he said. It is so callous, in many respects, to cite increases in building costs for removing what were commitments in respect of 58 school buildings. The primary reason we are waiting, during this inflationary period, for these schools to be built relates to the Department of Education having been so slow historically at progressing schools building projects. A Gaelscoil in my constituency has been on a school building programme for almost 30 years, in a similar situation to that which the Chair described, in entirely prefabricated accommodation, waiting and listening to promises for years. It has now received word it is to be taken off the list because of an apparent cost review by the Department, which ensured it was not built at a time when the costs would have been much lower had there been a little bit of efficiency within the Department.

In respect of the Cathaoirleach's proposal, we need to correspond also with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, given it has been cited in the Department of Education releases in this regard to the effect that there is a joint process or that the decision in respect of the removal of the 58 schools was made at the level of that Department. We need to get clarification in that respect and write to both Departments. It is ironic that at the same meeting where there is correspondence from the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform indicating it does not know how much the children's hospital, which is near completion, is going to cost, we are denying children in 58 schools, as well as the staff and the wider communities, the opportunities to progress their much-needed school buildings. I agree with all the Cathaoirleach said in respect of the questions but we should also write to the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform.