Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)

This issue is virtually an old chestnut given it has been ongoing for more than 13 years, which is a considerable time. The gaelscoil was established in temporary quarters in 1996. While the current Administration has been, in one form another, in office since then nothing has happened. Some 13 years later we are no nearer obtaining a permanent structure for the school. The Celtic tiger has come and gone and we have nothing to show for it. The former Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, despite making various promises when in the constituency, did not deliver on the project.

In the meantime, the children, staff and parents must operate in appalling conditions. As long ago as 2000, some nine years ago, a district inspector for the Department of Education and Science noted "the deplorable state of the temporary accommodation makes it imperative that the planning process be initiated as soon as possible". Despite that thist statement was made nearly a decade ago, the same appalling conditions prevail. The prefabs are leaking and smelly and children cannot and will not use the school toilets. They are too hot in the summer, too cold in the winter and wet all of the time. The accommodation is a totally unsuitable and unhygienic environment in which to teach children.

There has been a constant long-fingering of the provision of a permanent site. The OPW searched for years for a suitable site but never found one. The matter then fell between the cracks in the Department of Education and Science and was lost for four years, which the Department has admitted. Finally, with considerable effort on the part of the campaign group for a permanent structure, some light has appeared at the end of the tunnel. The Department of Education and Science has decided to build on the existing site. Negotiations in this regard have taken place with Dublin City Council and St. Finbar's GAA club, which owns the lease on the site, with a view to the putting in place of a new lease that would allow for a portion of the land to be transferred to the school for the purpose of constructing a new school building.

At what stage is the process in terms of the transfer of the lease? When will acquisition of the site be concluded and when will the Department revert to the city council with an application for decision on the matter? At what stage are plans for construction of the school? I believe they should be fast-tracked bearing in mind the Department's negligence over a considerable period in terms of construction of a school.

On Tuesday, a substantial cut in the capital budget was announced in respect of the construction of primary and second level schools. I wonder if this will impact on the construction of this new school. Perhaps the Minister of State will provide me with an update of the current position, with the absolute expectancy that there will be no further delays, that the site will be acquired, funding will be put in place, planning will be completed and that the school will be built.

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