Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I am pleased to have an opportunity to highlight this matter, which I have previously raised on the Adjournment. The Minister of State, Deputy Haughey, who responded to me on that occasion, is familiar with the issues which are at stake. Ballygarvan, which is approximately ten miles from Cork city, used to be a small rural village. Like many other villages near large urban areas, it has been an attractive location for development. The provision of facilities such as schools has not kept pace with the development of many such villages, unfortunately. The development of a new primary school in Ballygarvan has been a long and protracted issue. In 1998, the then Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Martin, promised that the area would get a new school. The site that was identified was in the ownership of three separate parties, which unfortunately led to delays. The entire site was finally acquired this week by the Diocese of Cork and Ross, on the basis of its understanding that the Department of Education and Science will proceed with the construction of a new school building there.

Ballygarvan national school, which has 265 pupils, rents eight prefabs at an annual cost of approximately €84,000. The Ballygarvan area is developing. Many housing estates have been built in the area over the past ten years. Approximately 140 houses have been built in Ballygarvan over that time. Most of the people living in them now have young children and would like to send them to school in the village. It is desirable for young people to be able to mix in their own localities. I strongly support that because it is important for children and their neighbours to have a sense of ownership of their local communities, where possible. I understand that planning permission has been granted for the construction of a further 140 houses in the area, which will put further pressure on the school under discussion.

Earlier this week, Cork County Council signed over the third part of the proposed site for the new school to the Diocese of Cork and Ross, which now owns the entire site. I would like the Minister for Education and Science to give a commitment to proceed with the construction of the new school building. He has indicated previously that it is within his capacity to provide a school at the site in question. Now that the ownership of the site has been reconciled, the next step should involve the appointment of a design team. I ask the Minister to give a commitment to appoint a team and to make progress with this development as soon as possible. We not want the appointment in question to become a long and protracted affair, involving endless consultation. I do not think Ballygarvan national school should be left in such a quandary. We need action now.

I am aware of schools in other areas that cannot cope with the additional student numbers that have resulted from the excessive development in their localities. Procedures should be put in place to fast-track school developments. In this case, the design team should be appointed, the planning process should be completed, all the boxes should be ticked and on-site work should commence as quickly as possible so that the school, the local children and the local parents can be accommodated.

The Department of Education and Science is well aware of the long history of the proposed development at Ballygarvan national school. As a site has now been acquired, further action should be taken immediately. I ask the Minister of State to tell the House when a design team will be appointed, thereby ensuring that progress can be made with the construction of a new school building in Ballygarvan as quickly as possible.

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