James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for affording me the opportunity to speak on this important matter, namely, the need for the Minister for Education and Science to provide an update on the commencement date for building the new school building for Forgney national school, County Longford, which is urgently required to replace the school's 40 year old wooden structure. The new school building was approved two years ago, in November 2006, in an announcement by the then Minister for Education and Science of a new building programme under which 72 primary schools nationwide were allocated funding.

Forgney national school has gone from the heights of elation to the depths of despair in the past two years. There was elation in November 2006, almost two years ago, with the announcement that after a 40-year wait the school was given the go-ahead by the Department for a new school building. However, as time passed with no follow through, this has turned to despair. The Minister might be unable to imagine such despair but I can assure him it is extreme. It is the culmination of raised hopes that have been dashed and the reality of hard work by pupils, teachers and parents coming to nothing.

Forgney national school has been accommodated for an unbelievable 42 years in an old wooden, flat-roofed army-type building which is very near collapse. It is well past its sell-by date. This is a huge health and safety risk for children and teachers. As I asked recently in this House when speaking about the conditions in another school, would the Minister and his Government colleagues be happy to work in accommodation that has deteriorated to such an extent? I am sure they would not and that the Office of Public Works would be called in immediately to upgrade facilities. Government spin, particularly with regard to school building projects, is also well past its sell-by date. Communities with schools such as that in Forgney are sick and tired of having the wool pulled over their eyes and promise after promise without action.

Forgney national school is a small two-teacher school at the heart of the community in Forgney, County Longford. Although the postal address is County Westmeath, this is a Longford school which is under the capable direction of its principal, Mr. Adrian Coughlan. If anything should happen to the temporary structure, the school would be forced to copy the hedge schools of old as no other accommodation is available in the area. The pupils would be at the mercy of the elements. Forgney is a developing catchment area on the outskirts of Ballymahon. The school is the only primary school in the parish and as such it is a focal point of parish activities.

While the area has not been over-developed in recent years, it is beginning to attract some development. Although it is a small school, zoning for housing in the area will lead to an increase in the number of school-going children in coming years. A recently completed building scheme situated on the border of Forgney and Ballymahon will lead to a significant increase in the school-going population. The school has a projected enrolment of more than 30 pupils by 2010. The local people have worked tirelessly and have vigorously campaigned for a new school building to replace the difficult physical conditions in which Forgney national school has provided an excellent education for the children of the area for many years.

Currently, the principal assumes the building project has reached the design stage and it is accepted that it will not now go to tender in the first six months of 2009. I urge the Minister to give an assurance, without clouding the issue, that it will be certain to go to tender in the second half of next year.

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