Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 in the light of yesterday's debate on education to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the fact that St. Angela's College, a girls secondary school located at Patrick's Hill in Cork, was forced to close and send home its 500 pupils on Tuesday after strong winds and stormy weather affected its dilapidated buildings, causing slates to fall from the roof and leading to serious health and safety concerns for the students. The students are currently housed in a decaying 19th century building and decades old prefabs. In 1999 the then Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Martin, announced to an assembled group that he was about to give €4 million to build a new school but nine years later nothing has materialised. Funding must immediately come on stream to avoid further closures of the school and hardship to its 500 pupils.

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