Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for that reply. I am aware the meeting is happening tomorrow with the ETB and Department officials. Laois-Offaly Education and Training Board has a great record of delivering capital builds. Since the old VECs were amalgamated into a single body, it has really expanded and is providing huge education and training opportunities in both Laois and Offaly. I am confident of its part in this and welcome that the meeting is happening, which I was aware of before today. I am asking that we move this on. I have outlined how Portlaoise is oversubscribed. The spillover of this affects Mountrath and Mountmellick. All second level schools in that middle part of Laois are full and that is a good thing. We need this capacity put in. As I said, we have the fastest growing town outside Dublin. The ETB is anxious to do it. The school authorities are too and obviously the school staff are because they are trying to deal with the situation daily. It can be challenging, but I have to give them ten out of ten. They are able to manage to do it and successfully educate 570 and that is good.

I am asking the Minister of State to take the message back to the Minister that we can move to stage 2b. That is where we want to get to. That would allow the board to apply for planning permission to Laois County Council. That meeting is happening. The Minister of State is taking this on behalf of the Government and the Minister. What I want him to take back is that it is really important that she ensures tomorrow there are no false starts. This must go through so that we are into stage 2b and go straight to planning. I am confident the county council will move this quickly. It always prioritises schools and critical infrastructure. I am confident the ETB will do so and I am asking the Minister and the Department to do the same thing.

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