James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I rise to talk to the Minister about some of the specific and significant issues in the constituency of Cork East. I have been raising these issues for the long number of months since the Minister's appointment to Cabinet. The issue of school capacity is an enormous problem. It is welcome that we are seeing a return to school for students around the country, particularly for leaving certificate examination students. I pay tribute to them and their parents given all they have gone through in the past number of months. It has been exceptionally difficult, as we all acknowledge, and particular words of tribute must be paid to them.

The situation in my own constituency of Cork East must be acknowledged. For a number of years we have been awaiting news on progress in regard to the Carrigtwohill school complex, which requires the building of a new secondary school and two new primary school buildings. I am pleading with the Minister to get an answer on that project because I have been waiting long enough. The constituents and community of Carrigtwohill are extremely frustrated. We must bear in mind that there are 4,000 homes zoned for development in that region. There is already a chronic lack of school places for secondary school students and we are desperate for the help of the Department of Education. I have been flagging this issue for months and I need answers.

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