Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)

Like the people of Dromakeenan, the people of Buttevant are proud of where they come from. They have an equally dire need for a new school. They have been campaigning for such a school for over 11 years. When I was a member of Cork County Council, we co-ordinated with the local VEC on the rezoning of a specific parcel of land to allow the new school to be developed. That site was purchased over 12 months ago. As I understand it, a schedule of accommodation was submitted in September of this year. Nothing has come back from the Department yet. The school authorities are seeking the appointment of a design team. Such an appointment should not incur an undue cost. On behalf of the community, I want the next stage of the process to be reached.

Like their counterparts in hundreds of schools throughout the State, the pupils and teachers of the vocational school in Buttevant are having to work in dire circumstances. The building in question dates back to pre-Famine times. Its structures are not in line with what one would expect to see in a modern school. Notwithstanding the financial circumstances the State finds itself in, if it is to be progressive it needs to move this project onto the next stage. That would not involve a major outlay. All I am calling for at this stage is the progression of the project — it should not be stalled.

I will leave it at that because I have summed up my point. I have tabled parliamentary questions on this matter in the past and have raised it on the Adjournment previously. I will continue to raise this issue. I appreciate that the Minister of State will give me a pro forma reply. I appeal to the official in the Department of Education and Science who will be responsible for reading the transcript of this debate to take up this case and try to move it on to the next stage.

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