John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister will recall the debate last September when we set out the conditions in the school which the 74 pupils are enduring. All these pupils have a range of disabilities. The school structure is simply not adequate to meet their needs. I refer to their movements around the school, the size of the corridors, the classrooms and the toilet facilities.

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All of these children require mobility aids of one form or another, but mainly wheelchairs, and it is simply not possible to move around the school. We specifically asked the Minister to consider favourably fast-tracking this development and he indicated in his response that he would consider it. He also said at the time that there were outstanding issues. Deputy Ó Broin and I are advised by the school that all the outstanding issues have been forwarded to the Department. It is extraordinary to see the pupils and teachers surviving and thriving in this environment. It is not an appropriate place where the most vulnerable in our society should be expected to go for an education.

Incidentally, when we asked the Minister to consider favourably fast-tracking this we had no wish to jump a queue. That was not the point. As I pointed out on the last occasion, the whole school evaluation report, which was conducted eight years ago on 4 March 2010, highlighted all the issues we are bringing to the Minister's attention today. Eight years ago the Department determined that the school was not fit for purpose. We need assistance in bringing it up to date so it does not languish in some procedural black hole in the Department. Frankly, we were concerned by the reply when we raised this issue, which simply stated that it is now in the six year construction programme. That is not satisfactory. The school has already spent eight years trying to get onto a programme. Now it is told it is on a programme, but there is no plan or detail. I hope the Minister can enlighten us and outline what practical steps can be taken to ensure the vulnerable pupils in that school are looked after in a timely fashion.

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