Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for selecting this matter which is important to my constituency. I am glad the Minister is here to take the issue. The Minister will no doubt be aware of the shock, disappointment and anger expressed by pupils, staff, parents and the entire community in Croom in Limerick following the news that Sammon contracting group, which it has been reported submitted the lowest tender for the construction of the long-awaited new secondary school building, has been place into examinership. The decision of the High Court to appoint an examiner has thrown the process into a state of flux.

The Minister will be aware that the process of building a new secondary school in Croom has been dogged by many disappointments, much controversy and a huge amount of delay. It has been going on since the early 2000s. We have had issues with site suitability, the size of the school and with planning permission which had to be obtained on at least three occasions having been allowed to lapse. It had to go to An Bord Pleanála. We have also had issues with the access road.

There was finally some light beginning to appear at the end of the tunnel and there was a little bit of hope it might pass through the tender stage and a contractor would be appointed. I inquired about the status from the local education and training board, the Limerick and Clare ETB, which is the patron, and we were promised construction would commence well before now. We are where we are.

It would be worthwhile for the Minister to take the opportunity, if it ever presents itself, to visit the facility which operates as a secondary school. My colleague, Deputy Neville, who is present in the Chamber, knows all too well that it is substandard, which is to put it mildly. The pupils and staff have to operate in prefabricated buildings, many of which are years old and so substandard it beggars belief that they would meet any safety standards or pass any inspection.

My purpose in raising this matter is to keep the pressure on the Minister and the Department to bring a positive note to the mood surrounding it because the community in Croom and the community the school serves are very worried. Some feel it will never go ahead. The Minister needs to knock that on the head and make clear that he is determined to see this project through and ensure that the new school building, which was promised 16 or 17 years ago, will be delivered.

In time the Department of Education and Skills will see this as a case study in how not to build a new school. Can the Minister give us the update on the tender process today? Has the Sammon Group formally withdrawn from the tender process, which is the stated desire of everybody involved, including the education and training board, ETB? Can he update us on any discussions he or the Department has had with the Sammon Group or the building unit? What will be the timeline for delivery of the new school building?

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