Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. I will list a few of the schools for the information of the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, and for the Department in Tullamore. They know these, and a lot of good work has gone into these: Gaelscoil Na gCeithre Máistrí in Donegal town is ready to start construction; Moville Community College in north Inishowen is ready to start construction; St. Eunan's College in Letterkenny is ready to go to tender; Pobalscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola has an application for a school building which is at the very early stages; at Scoil Cholmcille at Kilmacrennan a construction company has been appointed for an autism spectrum disorder, ASD, class extension; two classrooms for special education needs were announced in 2019 for Scoil Naomh Baoithin at St. Johnston in Lifford but are still waiting approval; Scoil Niall Mór in Killybegs has been waiting on stage 2A for a number of months; Scoil Naomh Fiachra, Illistrin, is currently at stage 2B, planning stage, but there is a concern around whether there is sufficient money to complete this project; Loreto Milford, has the stage 2A report submitted for a proposed extension and was offered prefabs, but this is not a solution for growing numbers; the Royal and Prior school in Raphoe had funding committed back in 2019 and it is looking for progress there; Scoil Íosagáin in Buncrana had to go back for planning because of problems with the awarding of the contract, but it is back on track and needs reassurances as well; the Crana College campus has applied for an 11-classroom extension; the principal at Cranford National School was also in touch with me this morning; Deele College in Raphoe was ready to go to planning last summer and had to bin its application and the design team with 12 to 18 months gone, and its numbers will be 750; and there is also Cashelnagor National School in Gortahork.

I mention these because if we stop any form of funding in that current system, we will lose out on all of the work that has gone in so far and all of the taxpayers' money that has gone into investment, design teams, architects, quantity surveying and all of that work. If we stop that, we are back to duplicating this work and it will cost in the long run. I am aware the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform works on multi-annual budgets, but we need to find a better system. I am glad to hear the Minister of State's words today that there is a collective solidarity around this issue at Cabinet and around Government. School communities have been patient, in particular those schools with projects that have been waiting for the green light to be switched on. That is what I am thinking.

Gabhaim buíochas arís leis an Aire Stáit as teacht go dtí an Teach inniu agus as an am atá sí ag gabháil chugam. Gabhaim Lá Idirnáisiúnta na mBan sona di agus don Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Bainigí sult as tríd an bhliain, ní hamháin ar lá amháin.

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