Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)

I thank the Acting Chairman and the Ceann Comhairle's office for giving me the opportunity to raise this important matter for Dublin South-West. I appreciate the attendance of the Minister of State, Deputy Wallace, at this late hour.

In my constituency, Templeogue in particular, there is a considerable degree of disappointment concerning the manner in which the Department of Education and Science has dealt with this issue for some time. Our Lady's school in Templeogue serves a student population of approximately 730. A substantial number of communities in the area — Knocklyon, Terenure, Walkinstown, Greenhills, Firhouse and Tallaght — send young women to that distinguished school, which has waited patiently for a green light from the Department in respect of a proposed extension. The proposal has been on the desk of the Minister for Education and Science for the past eight years. The school was given a firm indication that a decision to allow it to commence extension work would be made in June. Unfortunately, the decision has been stalled and placed to one side.

This matter is of significant concern in the local community and the school's catchment area. By raising this issue, I wish to highlight the community's deep frustration with the fact that a project that has been a matter for the Department for nearly a decade is still waiting to proceed to full construction stage. We want an early decision to ensure that we can proceed. Approximately €500,000 has been spent by the school in consultancy fees, planning fees and so on to bring the proposal to fruition. It is an example of a school that has waited for the Department's green light for too long.

What is involved in the proposal? The extension comprises four general classrooms, two lecture rooms, one learning support room, two science laboratories and preparatory areas, two arts and crafts rooms, two home economics rooms, one technological room, one woodwork, machining and preparatory room, one deputy principal's office, six pastoral offices, etc. It is not an add-on. Rather, it is the essential infrastructure expected of any school the size of Our Lady's school in 2008 and 2009.

It is a matter of deep frustration for the school authorities and parents that the decision to proceed to construction in June has been stalled under the school building and modernisation programme. Last week, the Minister for Education and Science told the House he expects to make a decision on the next phase of the schools building programme in September. I urge the Minister of State and her Department to ensure that Our Lady's school in Templeogue is a central part of that announcement so the school authorities can be allowed to proceed with their plans which are not extensive but are plans that deliberately aimed at providing the kind of modern, updated school infrastructure one would expect of a school of this size. I await the Minister's reply and I speak on behalf of the 730 students in the school and their families who expect their Government to respond to this issue.

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