Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. This is about playing catch-up. This is about the children of Rathdowney and south Laois having the same opportunities and facilities as everyone else. As I said, the school opened in 1937. My father went there in the 1940s and those classrooms are still there. I welcome the fact the new classrooms were approved. This is welcomed by all and sundry, including the staff, board of management and pupils and I certainly welcome it as a local representative.

Any significant school needs to have functioning PE hall. It needs to have it for all the reasons I have outlined. The Minister of State said the Department is currently assessing capital projects and funding of future programmes in the 2023-24 year. I want this school to feature highly. In terms of the demographics of the area and the progress the school has made, it needs this facility. I want this included in the programme and I want the Minister of State to bring back this very strong message to the Minister, Deputy Foley. This is really important. We cannot have south Laois left behind the rest of the country. The children of south Laois cannot be left behind. An 86-year wait is a long time. I want to see this project brought on. There has been substantial investment in schools, all of which is welcomed. I have been at many of the openings of those schools around my constituency of Laois-Offaly. In this Dáil term, I want to see this project nailed down once and for all in order that we can get it up and running. It is shovel-ready and that it is good to go. Let us get on with it.

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