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

Stunned, shocked, appalled, frustrated and let down; this is how parents and teachers in my constituency are feeling after projects relating to their local schools were put on pause because of a row between the Department and the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. Building costs have increased dramatically and the Department’s budget needs to be increased as a result. I completely get that point, and I agree with the Minister on it. Prices did not increase overnight, however, and these discussions really needed to have taken place prior the budget. Having them now and putting much-needed, long-promised school building projects - 58 across the country - on hold is not just unprofessional, it is utterly unfair to the students, staff and parents involved. The students, staff and parents I have been speaking to in the past couple of weeks feel like the projects relating to their schools have been put on the long finger. They feel that they have been abandoned by the Department of Education, and I do not blame them.

I was a student in Holy Family Community School when the talk of a new building first started. Like so many other schools, it has endured multiple setbacks and a number of false starts. Now, when it is ready to break ground on its new building, the project has been paused. Right across my constituency, school building projects have been promised but not delivered. Holy Family Community School is one, but there are many others. Significant extensions or new buildings were promised in respect of Lucan Community College, Scoil Chrónáin, St, Thomas Primary School, Scoil Naomh Áine, Divine Mercy Junior National School, Gaelscoil Chluain Dolcáin and Gaelscoil na Camóige. All of the schools in question are still waiting for those projects to commence. We also have newly established schools with no permanent homes. I refer here to Rathcoole Educate Together, Griffeen Community College, Gaelcsoil Lir and Coláiste Pobail Fóla in City West. These schools were all set up on the promise that they would get brand-new shiny school buildings but they are all still waiting for these. That is not to mention all of the schools still waiting for prefabs, such St. Ronan's National School, Moyle Park College and many others.

I am sure that the Minister can hear the frustration in my voice. It reflects the frustration I am hearing on a daily basis. I represent a rapidly growing area. My constituency contains two strategic development zones and has a shortage of school places.

At a meeting with principals from eight schools in Clondalkin in recent days, I was told to expect a September like no other as a result of the fact that not all post-primary schoolchildren will be given second level school places. We must think about that for a second. There are principals in my constituency who are preparing to tell parents that their children will be denied their right to education. This is at a time when schools have been promised buildings to help accommodate those same children. Unfortunately, the projects relating to those buildings have been put on pause. Where is the joined-up thinking? In what world do we think that putting these projects on pause will do anything other than deepen the crisis relating to schools? All that is happening is that the problem is shifting from one side of the Department to the other. Meanwhile, it is children, parents and staff who are caught in the crossfire. That is just not good for the constituents to whom I refer. When will this matter be resolved for the 58 schools across the country? When will the projects relating to those schools get the green light to proceed to construction?

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