Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to raise this matter. We now know a site has been identified and bought, as the OPW has agreed a price. It is a matter for the Westport Town Council. As the Minister of State knows, the council can buy all the land it wants but cannot sell a blade of grass without a council meeting and this issue will be on the agenda over the next week or two.

We have fought long and hard to get the site. It has been identified and I hope it will be in the possession of the OPW in a very short time but what is now needed is a commitment from the Department of Education and Science that the school will be included in the schools building programme for next year.

Gaelscoil na Cruaiche has been a major success and many parents are worried about the conditions their children must be educated in. The teachers, staff and management of the school are quite concerned. As Deputy Cowley said, the school's lease is up next year. It is important to include it in the programme as, for the town of Westport and the teachers, pupils and management of the school, it is necessary.

This school has waited a long time. The people involved have been very patient. If a number of steps must be jumped, it must happen because we do not want to still be fighting this time next year to get the school included in the programme. We want a commitment from the Minister for Education and Science that these children will be approved a new school, the project will go out to tender and we will see the school built sometime next year so that pupils can look forward to entering their new school the following September.

The site has been found, identified and a price agreed. I want the Minister to make a commitment to the west, particularly Westport. Recent announcements were made concerning the schools building programme and I hope the Minister will announce over the next day or two that this school will be included in the programme for next year.

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