Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his reply but I would have hoped for a firmer and more detailed timeframe for the commencement of the building work. The parents have been listening to how long a tender process takes for the past several years. The Minister of State indicated that the school project is included in the 2016 to 2021 building programme. However, it was announced by the previous Government seven years ago. What frustrates the parents is that there were no qualified remarks when the project was announced seven years ago. The projects relating to the other two schools on the campus flew through the planning process, the approval stages in Tullamore and have been built. The only project that has not progressed is that relating to St. Mary's special school.

Why has there been such a logjam? Will the Minister of State ask the Department why there has been such a delay? Of all the students on the campus in question, those in St. Mary's special school are the ones who need the most up-to-date facilities. For the past 42 years, the school's students have been in two separate temporary antiquated facilities. The hope afforded those students seven years ago when the new school campus was announced was amazing. The frustration now is that another generation of students will go through it and not see the realisation of that dream. The parents who had children in the school are now fighting for the current generation because these children deserve the best. I know the Minister of State, due to his brief, will appreciate that and back those parents' sentiments.

The parents have heard the outlines for the tender process before. Will there be a shovel-ready site in January 2020 or will it be delayed even further? Will the Department come back with a definitive date as to when we can expect construction to start?

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