Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the availability of the Department to assist the school on this matter. I note the issues regarding the pre-tender report. The school is quite frustrated that the report has delayed things. I know there is some difficulty in trying to secure the additional requirements. There is a bigger issue here. If we had a DEIS plus programme, this would be a school that needed it. The Minister provided access control gates for the school last year. She did so because of the significant level of antisocial behaviour that is happening in the area. The council and other local representatives are highly engaged with the school to try to address this ageing and large campus, which unfortunately has a small number of students, meaning that the capitation grant goes nowhere near the management costs. There is a long-term issue here with how we manage the school building and invest in it. I accept that the summer works scheme needs to be brought to a conclusion and I thank the Minister for her support. There are two other questions later on with regard to Holy Spirit school and Gaelscoil Uí Earcáin. I might follow those up with the Minister directly afterwards.

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