Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)

I am delighted to have the opportunity to raise this matter once again. It seems to be my perennial issue. This is the 14th year Gaelscoil Bharra, Cabra, has been based in prefabs. Those provided are not the best and have the usual problems of being too cold in the winter, too hot in the summer. The rooms are untidy and difficult to maintain and the toilets are far from satisfactory. Some of the pupils who have endured these conditions are now in college, which shows the length of time the school has been confined to prefabs.

When the school was originally established, it fulfilled all the Department's conditions for permanent accommodation. It was promised accommodation by a former Taoiseach at every election but it was never delivered. The Department lost the application for four years and other unfortunate circumstances such as locating a site surrounded the school's accommodation needs.

Recently progress was made in the acquisition of a site and that land, currently being leased by Dublin City Council to the Naomh Fionnbarra GAA club, will be extended to allow a school to be built. Has there been a transfer of title? Has the Department prepared any planning applications? Has there been any consultation with the school's staff, board of management and parents on the design plans for the new buildings? It was hoped the building could be used for extra-curricular activities in the community. More important, considering the limits on capital spending, will funding be available for its construction?

This matter has gone on for far too long. It is unfair to the children and the community. We want this intolerable situation to be rectified for once and for all.

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