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

I thank the Minister of State for stepping in to give the response. I appreciate this is not his Department. I am also conscious that should an answer such as this be given about a school in his area, he would not be satisfied. None of us would be. I appreciate there are capital construction costs and increasing construction costs due to a number of factors, not least the war in Ukraine. However, this school is crumbling at the seams. Everyone comes here and speaks about the needs in their constituencies, and that is fair enough and par for the course in Parliament. This school is literally crumbling. The staircase is dangerous. The cornice is coming down from the ceiling.

This is a Gaelscoil in an area that has tried to prioritise the language. It was not suitable for purpose 20 years ago. Ten years ago it was a danger to the students who were there. Today we are at the point where it is a risk even to open the doors in the school. I would not raise this as a Topical Issue lightly. I am sure there are other schools in my area that will also be among the 58 delayed schools. This school is an emergency and it has to be treated as such. It is simply not acceptable that students would be asked to be educated in an environment where they are warned to be cautious before they walk up the stairs. The health and safety awareness classes in the school factor in that the school itself is dangerous. Students in very few other schools have to deal with this. This does not have anything to do with the wider environment or social issue. The school is lovely in every single way. Family members of mine have been there. It is just that the building itself is a danger. I would argue, and the Minister of State may say I would do so, that this school, more than any other school, requires urgent action.

Urgency and immediacy are required from the State. It must step in because this is grossly unfair to students and with regard to the advancement of the language and the dignity of the children, staff, parents and guardians who have to risk sending their kids to the school so they can learn the language. We need urgency. I thank the Minister of State from coming to the Chamber.

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