Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for affording me the opportunity to raise this issue again. It has been a sensitive issue in my constituency for some years. The schools building project at Kill, County Kildare, which started in the past six months was the end of a long drawn-out campaign to upgrade the school to better cater for the needs of its pupils and the people in an area with a rapidly expanding population. All seemed to be going well during the summer. Unfortunately, the project has run into difficulty as it appears the builder in charge of the project has gone into liquidation.

The school authorities, board of management and the parents are concerned at this development and that the project may fall by the wayside or be delayed for some time. What is required at this stage is that the school authorities would have an opportunity to meet with the Minister to identify the best possible means of proceeding with the project in the shortest time possible. There is no difference of opinion as to what needs to be done. The school authorities and the Department of Education and Science are at one on this issue.

I have raised the issue on the Adjournment to get a reassurance from the Minister for Education and Science that the project will proceed with all possible speed. In the interim, I ask the Minister for Transport to convey to the Minister for Education and Science the urgent necessity to accommodate an early meeting with the school authorities to identify the best possible means of proceeding the project without interruption.

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