Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her response, but it did not give me much information beyond what I have received already from her Department or others who have received communications from her Department. At the heart of this issue is the fact that the children are being taught in a tennis club which is totally unacceptable and unsuitable as classroom accommodation. I acknowledge that the Department is doing what it can and that it and the Minister are dealing with a range of difficulties across the educational system at the moment. However, my focus is on the children, teachers and parents in Greystones who were meant to go into a new school.

I have received several communications from the Department and addressed several questions to it. I have received communications from the construction team, the project management team on the site. I do not know whether the Department and the construction team are communicating with each other. The Minister stated that her Department had not received a notification that Deputy Whitmore and I received. We should not have to act as referees and arbitrators in this situation. The communication should be between the Department and the construction team. I ask that senior officials in the Minister's Department open a line of communication with the construction team to put whatever difficulties exist right such that the children can go into the school.

The Minister stated that she is grateful to the tennis club. We are all grateful to the tennis club for stepping in in this emergency situation, but it is not a resolution. The children are guaranteed to be there until December 2020.

We would be looking at potential options. Temporary accommodation in Charlesland would be fantastic, but they need the permanent school in Charlesland. We have no indication or confirmation that the tennis club is willing to extend. Temporary accommodation in Charlesland would be better than the tennis club. Considering acquisition of land, planning and design, it could take at least three years before moving into that school. I would like clarification on that and assurance on where the school will be after Christmas 2020. The children, their parents and the teachers need to hear that.

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