Francis Noel Duffy (Dublin South West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the decision to reopen schools on a phased basis. I take this opportunity to thank our teachers and school management, who have put in enormous effort to ensure learning does not stop during the pandemic despite the difficulties in migrating from on-site to fully remote teaching environments. I also thank our students for their patience.

I am deeply concerned about the condition of some school buildings that children and staff will be returning to. Some are so dangerous they could potentially pose a more serious risk to the health and safety of students and staff than Covid. In my constituency of Dublin South-West, Tallaght Community School has been facing serious issues with its building, where there are damages beyond repair. The school has submitted applications for numerous grants, some of which have been rejected by the Department as the building is too unstable for upgrade. The Minister will be aware that Tallaght Community School, which was established almost 50 years ago, is the longest standing community school in this State and has served generations of the Tallaght community. Following my recent visit to the school, I am gravely concerned that the building will not remain standing for much longer without immediate intervention from the Minister and the Department. Some rooms have been closed. I appreciate the Minister's acknowledgement of my correspondence on this issue but I would be grateful if she would take the opportunity today to respond further and, perhaps, give a commitment to visit the school when the circumstances allow to view the building and to hear from the school management their proposal for a new building on the existing grounds.

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