Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)

The inaccuracies in that response are a disgrace to any Deputy in this House. It is simply wrong to make that point about the size of the school and the extra accommodation. The Department official who wrote this response should be ashamed of himself or herself. I met officials from the Minister's office and it was agreed with the school to build the school needed under the criteria of the allocation. The problem is the extra features imposed by the council. That is what is costing the money. It is unfair to say the extension is bigger than the normal size. That is not right and I cannot accept it. I defy departmental officials to come to the school in Emly in the coming weeks as a matter of urgency. I do not want to use the word lies but blatant untruths have been told to me in respect of the information available to the Department. I know the Minister is not responsible but I ask him to explain what I have said to the Minister for Education and Skills and to ask the officials to come to Emily to see the difficulties on the ground. The people of this village are being disenfranchised through the total neglect of the school by the Department. It is time the Department copped itself on.

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