Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Earlier this month, it emerged that 58 school building projects are being delayed because of funding pressures. The delays are likely to affect tens of thousands of students who, in many cases, have been in temporary accommodation or prefabs for years. The development comes amid pressure on post-primary level, in particular, due to a population bulge and the need to find school places for Ukrainian students.

The multidenominational body, Educate Together, has stated that the Department of Education has told it that some projects due to go to construction in 2023 are now on hold. The Department of Education has blamed funding pressures and stated that a review is being conducted, whatever that means. Where has the money gone? Many schools in west Cork want money for their new works, but they will now be sidelined. Has the money gone to carbon credits in Slovakia to keep the Minister, Deputy Ryan, happy? The Government is forgetting about the people who need the money, namely the young people of this country. There are other worries in education.

I will be told I am wrong and that the Minister, Deputy Foley, may have some other business, but she seldom comes before the Dáil and should be here today to listen to the debate, which will not be very long. I have questions about St. Patrick's Boys' National School in Skibbereen, which has an excellent early intervention ASD unit. I was there recently and it went through all of the detail. The way it can progress children is phenomenal. The school does not know if there will be funding for the unit in the future. The same is the case with the Kilbrittain ASD unit. Will funding be available? We need answers. In fairness, I would like the Minister, Deputy Foley, to stand before us today.

We are still trying to get answers on school transport for at least ten students from Carhue and Bandon who attend Laragh National School. The issue continued on last year and we are now into 2023. The students in Carhue cannot get school transport. It is the same in Ballinhassig. There is one issue on top of another. We are continuously hearing the Minister attacking religious orders and a change in patronage. It is the same thing Ruairí Quinn was shouting about and never got anywhere with. That is all we seem to hear from the Government, instead of standing by the people who have looked after schools for decades.

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