Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)

I would like to raise a few issues on capital expenditure. I am Fianna Fáil spokesperson on education and youth. I have been having conversations with colleagues across the country who are facing challenges around school building projects in particular, both figuratively and literally, getting them off the ground and the challenges around that. When I see the allocation of €1.6 billion, it is good to know it is being spent by the Department. In particular, I raise the case of the Ursuline Secondary School in Thurles. Four years ago next February, it will have been approved for a school building project. It has been at stage 2a since July. It is an all-girls boarding school in Thurles and has 900 students but was built for 650. A multimillion euro development was approved for this school but we have been struggling to get it past stage 2a. As part of that development, there are general purpose classrooms, a technology room, a science lab, a home economics room, ancillary services and an additional needs suite for classrooms. The special classes, the principal tells me, cannot open until the new extension is built. I can also give examples such as Nenagh Community National School, Scoil Naomh Cualán in Borrisoleigh, Kyle Park national school and Coláiste Phobal in Roscrea as examples of schools we are trying to progress in County Tipperary. The reason I give those examples is it is widespread across my constituency. Speaking to the principal in the Ursuline Secondary School, there is a frustration around trying to get the project progressed.