Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I speak on behalf of the children, parents and staff of the school. Can the Minister of State commit on the floor of the Dáil to the statement in his script to the effect that, provided that no issues arise, it is envisaged that the permanent accommodation will be completed in September 2020? Will he commit further that if there is any slippage in relation to that date, the Department will ensure no further temporary movements are required of the school? The school has been in a situation of uncertainty for four years, which is a long time in the start-up life of a school and in the life of a child attending primary school. We want to ensure the uncertainty and fear created by the basement experience and the busing experience will not recur. We assume the owners of the site are its developers. They are probably making many millions of euro from the construction of houses and apartments there. I cannot see why the Department is not exercising its role in education by providing schools in areas in which large-scale residential development has taken place. I ask the Minister of State to commit, therefore, that there will be no further disruption to the school until it receives the permanent building in September 2020, as has just been promised.

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