Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for that update. It is welcome news that they will be delivered as quickly as possible but I would still like to know what "as quickly as possible" means. What kind of a timeframe are we looking at?

I would like to take this opportunity to ensure that the Minister of State, the Minister for Education and her Department are aware of the primary schools that also need new buildings and extensions in my constituency. They are: Adamstown Castle Educate Together National School; Gaelscoil na Camóige, which has been in prefabs for 30 plus years; Gaelscoil Chluain Dolcáin; Scoil Chrónáin; St. Thomas's Junior National School and Scoil Áine Naofa senior national school, which are together on the ADAPT programme, although I do not know what "Accelerated Delivery" means in their instance; Divine Mercy, junior and senior; Rathcoole Educate Together National School, which, I welcome, has gone to planning permission; Gaelscoil Lir; St. Ronan's National School, which, I understand, is being approved for rapid build for which I am grateful; and Scoil Mochua.

I cannot stress enough that speeding up the tender process would genuinely transform the situation for people in my community. We have so many schools still at stage 3, and almost 50% of Dublin schools at stage 3 are in my constituency. This seems to be the stage at which the process seems to grind to a halt. It needs to be addressed immediately if we are to turn projects around for schools, such as Lucan Community College, Griffeen Community College, my own old school, Holy Family Community School, Coláiste Pobail Fóla and Coláiste Chilliain.

I ask that the Minister of State work with me on this and that he help me get the results from the Department and the Minister for Education because schools in Dublin Mid-West are starting to run out of patience and the reality is we are running out of time for students who need places this September.

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