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

I thank the Minister of State for his response. It is not what I had hoped to hear in the response, but I would like to let him know that planning permission has been granted for 12 classrooms at this school. To proceed with the devolved scheme would greatly affect the development of the school, and there would be a loss of extended car parking space, a play area for children and so on if it were to go down this route after a 12 month period. The devolved scheme, under a new tender appointment, could only begin work after a period of 12 months in which a contractor is responsible for the current building. The delay would be unnecessary. The pupils are out of the school at the moment. They are in alternative accommodation and if the students were put back into the school, we the board of management would have to provide, with the assistance of the Department, security around the school while the two classrooms were being constructed.

This will have a knock-on effect of forcing the board of management to request the funding of temporary accommodation for the forthcoming academic year.

The Minister of State indicated it is Government policy to eliminate the use of prefabricated buildings. It does not make sense to waste money hiring or purchasing prefabricated buildings when the project could be completed while builders are on site. I plead with the Minister of State to ensure common sense prevails and the position is reviewed as quickly as possible. I ask that a meeting be arranged between the board of management of the school and the Department's building unit to try to advance this project.

The two temporary classrooms and additional special tuition prefabricated unit are to be located adjacent to a play area at the front of the new school building. This will have a negative visual impact on the building and will give rise to complaints and annoyance with the manner in which the Department operates. I ask that the Department take a common sense approach and allow the current contractor to complete the project in full.

I also acknowledge positive developments in the schools building programme. For example, the Department is building one of the finest schools in the midlands in Edgeworthstown. The construction project is at an advanced stage and the school will be the largest in the midlands when completed.

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