John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am flabbergasted by the response of the Minister and the handling of this entire situation by the Department. The school is completely in the dark as to what is going on. All the equipment from the building which the school is legally obliged to vacate has been packed up and is in storage. Now the Minister is talking about potential contingency plans being put in place if the work is not carried out. Perhaps somebody might want to speak to school and start talking to it directly about what plans may have to be put in place, because it is completely in the dark. The school is making plans to move into the building at Ravenswell, which it was informed it would be moving into in September.

I know Covid-19 has caused much disruption in this State, as it has across the world. I do not see how it could impact, however, on two legal entities signing a piece of paper, a licence, to ensure that the work could proceed. I simply do not buy that explanation. The handling of this situation by the Department has been absolutely shameful. Someone needs to pick up the phone to the school immediately, have a conversation and start putting in place contingency plans, if those plans need to be put in place. Less than seven weeks remain now until that school is due to open its doors to first years on 28 August. Someone needs to pick up a phone and start talking. It is absolutely shameful the way the school has been treated since 2016.

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