Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I understand the frustration felt by Deputy Boyd Barrett and students at Gaelscoil Phádraig having been educated in a prefabricated building for four years. This type of building tends to be too hot in summer and too cold in winter and I do not blame the pupils of the school for wanting to get out of prefabs.

The building project is progressing. I am not aware of any alternative that would shorten the process, nor did the Deputy suggest one. I cannot answer for 20 years of history as I have not been in this position for that long. It is safe to say, however, that the Department will progress this project as fast as it possibly can. This is a priority project to which we are committed. If everything goes to plan, the project will go to tender in the next couple of months and building will start either before Christmas or early in 2016. There is no point stating a school will be completed in a seven or eight months because we must not compromise the construction process. For this reason, it will probably be late 2016 or early 2017 before pupils transfer to the new building. That is the best option available.

The building project is proceeding and a new school will be built. The Deputy has asked that everything be done to ensure the school is completed as quickly as possible and I assure him that will be the case. The school will be built and when the special needs school moves into it, a building will be freed up for Scoil Phádraig. I do not expect the project to be delayed at this stage. I cannot answer for the previous planning history, the role of An Bord Pleanála and so forth; I can only explain what occurred in recent years. The project is moving ahead and the Department has a strong commitment to ensure it is completed as quickly as possible. Officials will do everything they can and I hope others on the ground will do likewise.

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