Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

I appreciate the Minister of State's response. I ask that he asks the Department officials to reconsider this issue. The Department has recognised the need for this new school build; it is clearly a matter of timing and of priority. If one looks at the overall list, there is scope for a degree of flexibility for the very reasons outlined by Deputy Boyd Barrett in regard to the very serious issues in terms of health and safety, the wide catchment area the school is appealing to in terms of its denominational background and the provision of the science syllabus, given that, according to the Department inspectors, the science labs cannot meet the new science syllabus. As an extra kick in the teeth, funding has been withheld from the school for the upgrade of those labs because it had been promised the new school building.

There is a real need to show there can be flexibility in this list. I ask the Minister of State to ask his officials to reconsider this. In light of the case I and Deputy Boyd Barrett have presented today, I hope a successful resolution can be found and that this school, which is much needed and has been long awaited, is delivered as quickly as possible.

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