Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister mentioned giving certainty to school building plans. Unfortunately, however, the uncertainty facing St. Mary's national school in Stranorlar is that it is not on the current five-year building programme which runs until the end of the year. As the Minister rightly indicated, the Department will be examining the following five-year programme. That is why it is important for the Minister to meet the schools' representatives directly, particularly in light of the fact that they were on the previous programme but have been dropped from the current one. They deserve to have such a meeting, although I know they have already had meetings with departmental officials.

In addition, the meetings which normally occur to progress matters will also take place over the coming period. I am not asking the Minister to become involved in the architectural process or to make an input in respect of the plans but I am of the view that it would be entirely appropriate for her to meet the people involved directly. The principal at the school, Mr. Fintan Keating, his staff and the board of management have done great work in the context of the facilities there. Understandably, however, there has been much disappointment with regard to the fact that there is not much certainty regarding this matter at present. There are concerns with regard to whether, once the planning process has been completed and the project approved, the necessary funding will be available.

Other school building projects are far less advanced in the context of the planning and design processes than that to which I refer. However, the school in question is not included in the schools building programme. It is in that context that those involved with the school would like to meet the Minister. The school is located on the main arterial route between north and south Donegal and, in light of traffic volumes, parents have very real concerns about their children getting to school safely each morning. It is important that the Minister should recognise that fact. She and her Department will be putting the new schools building programme together and it is in that context that I ask her to reconsider her decision and meet a delegation from the school. I assure the Minister that I will continue to work with her on this matter and that I will also continue to raise it. The school in question needs a new building and I am of the view that it must be given top priority when the new building programme is drawn up.

See this speech in context