James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister said, I made numerous representations to his Department about Lanesboro community college, and his comments are very much appreciated. I welcome the good news on behalf of the college and I extend my thanks and those of the college to the Minister. I will continue to work for the provision of a sports hall at the college, although I accept that the current economic climate makes such projects difficult to fund. I am also conscious of the physical and academic benefits of access to regular sports and exercise. This is very important at Lanesboro college.

I also welcome the news that Ardscoil Phádraig in Granard, County Longford, is to get four new classrooms. This is a very good day for education in County Longford. Much tough representation has paid off.

On a less positive note, however, I must refer to the ongoing fall-out from the failure to site the headquarters of the amalgamated Longford-Westmeath Vocational Education Committee in County Longford. As is clear from the records of the Dáil and committee meetings, there was an investment of approximately €2 million in Longford VEC headquarters prior to the announcement that the headquarters of the amalgamated Longford-Westmeath body was to be located in Westmeath. The cost-effectiveness and central location of Longford VEC was ignored for what can only be regarded as political expediency. Following the closure of Connolly Barracks, this loss was a massive blow to Longford. The annual rent paid by Westmeath VEC for its headquarters is €118,300 as opposed to a nominal sum of €13.33 payable on the Longford headquarters. This decision is surely not cost-effective. As I have said in the House, it appears that somebody needs to do their homework on this issue.

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