P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise with the Minister for Education and Science the important matter of post-primary school facilities in Skibbereen. The Department of Education and Science and the OPW are dragging their collective feet on this project. That is clearly evident by the replies to two parliamentary questions which I put down on 4 July 2007 and 26 September 2007. The OPW is not treating the acquisition of a school site as a serious matter. There are greenfield sites available that would clearly be suitable for this post-primary community school in Skibbereen.

Is the Minister aware that there are nearly 700 post-primary pupils in Skibbereen town trying to survive in completely overcrowded conditions in three sub-standard schools? There are no playing facilities or recreational facilities of any description. How long more must the people of Skibbereen and its hinterland wait for a decision from the Department and the OPW? Is this proper treatment for a town the size of Skibbereen? I ask the Minister to act before it is too late. The people of Skibbereen cannot imagine why a suitable site cannot be found in the area, when the board of management proposed seven different sites to the OPW for consideration. Surely the time is right for the Minister to act and to influence the OPW to clear some suitable site in the town of Skibbereen.

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