Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I do not believe what is set out in the Minister of State's reply. I know it is not his fault. I was offered the choice to postpone this matter or allow him to take it this morning. Conscious of the urgency of the situation, I asked that it be taken today. The Department officials who drafted the reply either did not look into the issue properly or they decided to be too clever by half.

I asked a very clear question, which was about the proposed plans for Owenabue Educate Together National School that involve splitting the school across two sites on either side of Carrigaline. My question obviously relates to the interim arrangements. The reply included ten paragraphs on the permanent solution, on which I am fully up to date, and only one paragraph on the interim solution. It is not good enough and I am very frustrated by it. I was hoping to receive confirmation regarding the interim situation. I know the Minister of State did not draft the reply. I brought the matter forward to be debated because there is an urgency to it. I am really disappointed and frustrated by the departmental response. I ask for a written response from the Department in the next day or two setting out the current state of play in terms of the temporary arrangements. We are fully aware of the permanent proposals. That is not where the concern arises at this time.

The concern relates to the interim proposals whereby the school will be split across a very busy town with heavy traffic. As I understand it, there are huge financial problems with the interim proposal involving an adjacent site. While there are grants for classrooms, there are no additional financial supports for the school to be split across two separate campuses. There is no grant for a staffroom and no additional funding for the extra heating, lighting, water, refuse, Internet and insurance costs. The capitation given to the school is based on the assumption that it is located in one place. That will be a huge challenge, even if the proposed different arrangement comes to pass. There is significant financial pressure at play. Will the Minister of State pass on the message to the Department that further financial support is needed for the school?

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