James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue because of the need for the major extension works at Bunclody VC. It is a school of 168 students with significant growth potential and it has a hard-working school principal, namely, James Murphy. It has a wonderful teaching staff, an excellent board of management and an active parents' council. The school has a very strong student-centred approach and a very strong and progressive approach to mental health, something I appreciate as my party's mental health spokesperson. The school principal has a number of ideas in this area and has approached the Department of Education and Skills with them.

I was in the school a few weeks ago and saw a dozen portakabins there. For years, children have had to walk long distances in the rain to go from class to class so I very much welcome the fact that a schedule of works is now being provided. Can the Minister give a timeline for building the extension? There is a scar in the Enniscorthy district from St. Patrick's special school - there was an announcement in December 2016 that the school was about to be built but a shovel was not put in the ground for two and a half years. I hope that is not the case in Bunclody.

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