Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this matter on the Adjournment. I am very disappointed that I am here again tonight. I have raised the issue of this particular school on many occasions. The school is in existence for ten years. It has 11 permanent staff and 200 pupils, with a waiting list to get into the school.

Before the general election in 2007, the school management was led to believe by the former Minister for Education and Science that a new school would be sanctioned, the sod would be turned before Christmas, and that the pupils would be in that school for 2008. A few years ago, before the local elections, the then Minister, Deputy Michael Woods, visited the local schools. He sang an Abba song at one school called "Money, Money, Money", but he did not come up with the money at the time, and he let down the school at Westport Quay. He led us to believe that Gaelscoil na Cruaiche in Westport would be the priority. When will the funding be sanctioned for that school? When are the parents going to know that their children are going to be taught in a new school? It is not fair on the teachers, it is not fair on the pupils and it is not fair on the school. We are paying more money on prefabs and this is costing a fortune.

There has been much talk recently about the school bond scheme, where somebody with the resources can do a deal with the Government to build these schools. If the Government has not got the funding, it should get a builder to build the school and it can then buy it back from him. What is happening is not right. Before the last general election, Fianna Fáil led everybody to believe that the school would be up and running this year. It is not right to have teachers working or pupils educated in these conditions.

When can we expect an announcement regarding the new school? When can we expect the funding to be put in place? When can we see the bulldozers? There had been difficulties with the site but planning permission has been secured and everything is in place. What is needed now is approval from the Department. It is not fair to mislead the public. People were expecting the construction of the school to start last year and to be in the school this year. What is the up to date position? Is there any hope that the school will start this year?

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