Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for that response and those helpful updates. Her commitment to delivering for students in Dublin Mid-West is welcome and we all hope those tenders and construction projects go according to plan.

I will take the opportunity to put on the record the primary schools in my area that are also due new buildings. Those include Scoil Chrónáin in Rathcoole; St. Thomas's and Scoil Áine Naofa in Lucan, which are part of the ADAPT programme to accelerate delivery; Divine Mercy junior and senior in Balgaddy; the Gaelscoil Chluain Dolcáin and Gaelscoil na Camóige campus, which will also deliver a PE hall for Coláiste Chillian; and Rathcoole Educate Together, another school open without a permanent building.

I cannot stress enough that speeding up the tender process would be transformative for many of the school building projects in my constituency. This seems to be the stage at which things grind to a halt. That needs to be addressed immediately if we are to turn things around for schools such as Holy Family Community School, Lucan Community College, Griffeen Community College and Coláiste Pobail Fóla.

On a positive note, St. Joseph's College in Lucan broke ground on its new school building three weeks ago, as the Minister noted. It was a long time coming but I was delighted to be there to celebrate the occasion with the principal, Ms Fitzgerald, and the wider school community. I cannot wait to be there for the grand opening when construction is complete. Seeing that work finally start has given the school a new lease of life and an excitement and hope for the future. That sense of excitement and hope for the future is what I want for all of the schools in my constituency. I know the Minister wants that too. I ask her to do everything in her power to deliver our new school buildings as quickly as possible because schools in Dublin Mid-West cannot wait much longer.

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