Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Fifty-eight schools in dire need of new buildings, many of which were due to go to tender or construction, have been told that the vital projects are on hold again. Many of these school communities have been waiting for decades. In my own constituency, Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire campaigned for 20 years for its new building. It was at the final stage of the process when it received the devastating news that the project was on hold. Imagine the anger having been told for two decades that the school was a priority to find it is on hold again.

Last week the Taoiseach gave a commitment to the 58 schools, including Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire, that they would be funded for construction this year. Some 48 hours later, the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, said that she was not in a position to make that same commitment. What is going on? Will the Taoiseach instruct the Minister for Education to write to the principals to give a clear guarantee that the new buildings will proceed to construction this year.

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