Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate Deputy Dillon on his maiden speech and I wish him every success. It is nice to see a man from the west. Following up on the issue raised by the Deputy, does the Minister have an update on the application for technological university, TU, status for Sligo, the north and the north west, and does he think it will be submitted before the end of the year? I welcome Niall O'Donnellan to the board of IT Sligo. He is an excellent appointment and I wish him well in the work he is doing.

I have two matters to raise. There are some issues regarding national schools. One concerns hygiene standards in national schools, especially in the context of Covid-19. Are we taking into consideration that some national schools just have sinks and do not have the proper hygiene standards to match those brought in to address Covid-19 some months ago? What is the Department doing in that area?

I also refer to Carns national school in Grange in County Sligo. It is on the N15, between Grange and Cliffoney, and I am sure the Minister passes by it nearly every day. The school has been granted an 80 sq. m additional classroom and the tender process is complete. The school, however, is awaiting written confirmation to begin construction so that the contract can be signed during the summer. I know it has been confirmed, but I would like to know if there are any issues.

In the context of Covid-19 and Brexit, we talk about an all-island basis, east-west relations and there being much work to be done. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister of Education in the North to consider mitigating the impact of Brexit especially, but also of Covid-19? I ask that because we are talking about addressing these issues on an all-island basis and I am interested to know exactly what the Minister is doing. Finally, regarding another constituency I was in, I am delighted that Dangan national school in Kilmore, with which the Minister is also familiar, also got the go-ahead to start construction of its much-awaited new extension.

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