Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I must say there will be real disappointment. The Minister of State’s contribution is a saga, from the perspective of the students, parents and staff. This school was first accepted onto the list of new school builds in 2007. Parents whom I met last night could point to other school buildings that went on at the same time or even eight years later and have progressed to completion or almost completion at this stage. There is huge frustration at the rate of progress here.

The school population want to hear from the Minister of State and it is welcome that she says it is a priority but they want a clear timeline and a clear indication of the date on which the letter of intent will issue. They have had the real disappointment of a contractor pulling out in the past and there is understandable concern that this will happen again. This is an horizon that is always just a step away. This is a very proud school and the whole community is doing its level best but it is not working with facilities that are suitable in this day and age in 2024. They are looking to the Minister of State, to the senior Minister, to the Department and to their local Government representatives for a clear date on which the letter of intent will issue and the giving of that green light to this project after many, many false dawns.

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