Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the Labour Party for bringing forward this important motion. I must highlight the Minister's initial response. She set an unfortunate tone when she said that the motion represents yet another cynical attempt by the Opposition to undermine and misrepresent all that the Government continues to achieve in education. Are we not involved in successive campaigns by parents reaching out to us to tell us that their sons and daughters have experienced decades of learning in neglected school buildings and been left in limbo? Should we deny that? That is not cynical. It is advocating on behalf of our constituents and children who have the right to be educated in a decent standard of accommodation. There is nothing cynical about that.

It is cynical that the Government continues to reiterate the word "commitment". Commitment, when applied to this Government, is thrown around on the opposite side of the House and seems to have truly lost its meaning. Upon the announcement of the halting of 58 school developments, the Minister was quick to assure those affected that the Department remains committed to delivering these new buildings. It is a hollow promise to school communities, some of which have waited three decades or more for a building, without any timeline or a list of the projects. That is cynical. Commitment means nothing without outlining a concrete plan to achieve the relevant goals. The schools in question have received no timeline of works or date of completion from the Department. They are operating in limbo. These schools have no reason to believe that the Government is committed. Successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Governments have left some schools waiting for decades to secure suitable accommodation in which to provide students with a decent standard of education. A school in Dublin 1 has been mentioned several times today. I refer to Gaelscoil Cholásite Mhuire.

It has been operating in unsuitable emergency accommodation for 20 years, despite a suitable site being available since 2010,, but we are told that it is cynical to raise the matter in this Chamber. After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, the school received news that building contracts were ready for a new building on Dominick Street, only for people's hopes to be dashed by the Government's decision to halt development on those 58 schools, of which Gaelscoil Cholásite Mhuire is one.

Construction for Gaelscoil Cholásite Mhuire is still ready to commence in April. This project would greatly benefit the regeneration of Dublin's north inner city and be a change with wide-scale benefits for the surrounding community. Parents in the area have stated:

If you mindlessly delay this project, you allow children to continue to inhabit a building, on Parnell Square, which is nothing short of dangerous. It is dilapidated. It is falling apart and it poses serious risks to the young students.

That is the testimony of the parents who are engaged in a campaign to tell their elected representative the reality on the ground. There is nothing cynical about advocating for that.

See this speech in context