Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for coming into the House to answer these questions personally. This has not always been the case, but I think the Ceann Comhairle is having an influence there.

Deputy Flanagan has outlined the history of all this. It has been a history of nothing but dashed hopes. I represented this area in 2002, before the constituency boundary changed. Now that it has come back into my area again six years later, I am appalled to see that the new school, which was then thought to be imminent, has still not been built. I have a press release from the Department in 2006 stating that the Minister, Deputy Hanafin, had approved the tender for this particular school. That is nearly two years ago, but it has never happened.

People feel really let down. There are 150 pupils in the school. The principal has to set mouse traps and the junior infants' classroom leaks when it rains. There is no hot water in the building. Every weekend something falls off the wall because of the dampness. The school is in a chronic state and the Department's own inspector stated in 2003 that it was totally inadequate, yet no decision has been taken. This school seems to have fallen behind other schools for whatever reason, in spite of the Minister's personal announcement in 2006. I hope she has some good news for us at this point.

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