Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)

Ballyea national school is in my parish. The current school was designed to cater for three class groups, essentially 75 to 85 pupils. As of September 2007, the school has 159 pupils. There is an overcrowding crisis in the school. Ballyea is a rapidly expanding area on the outskirts of Ennis and has a genuine need for a new school. The board of management, parents, staff and children first submitted an application for extra school accommodation eleven years ago.

After many delays, the new school got full sanction from the Department of Education and Science. This decision was greeted with delight by the residents of Ballyea. The promise of a new school made it easier for staff and pupils to continue to deal with the dreadful overcrowding problems. The development of a new school requires the demolition of the existing school and temporary accommodation must be provided. The local GAA club has given permission for the use of its car park for the development of the temporary accommodation.

Now, however, the news has come that funding has been suspended. To date, €200,000 from the public purse has been spent on the development of the temporary site. The board of management of Ballyea national school has been in constant contact with the Department to get final approval for buying the portacabins, but it has encountered major problems. I want some good news for my fellow parishioners and the people of Ballyea. Will the Minister of State inform us tonight that funding will be provided immediately to Ballyea? It is outrageous that this project has been put on hold. We have been waiting eleven years for it to come to fruition. Give us the money and let the project proceed.

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