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

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this Topical Issue for debate. It is a very important matter, not just the delivery of the new school building for this community but also the contingency in the meantime. That is something I hope the Minister of State can discuss.

I commend the whole school community at Dunshaughlin Community National School, including the principal, Ms Slevin, the parents' association, the teaching staff and, of course, the student population. There are a number of factors I would like the Minister of State to address. If he does not have a response, I ask him to escalate the matter and to come back to us with responses from the senior Minister. What is the delay with this project? There has been a delay. The parents, students and school community received notification in January 2023 that this project would go to tender in quarter 3 or quarter 4 of 2023. We are now in quarter 2 of 2024 and we have been told the project will happen later this year. What is the delay? This project was included in one of the bundles, lot 7, but it seems it has been delayed inordinately. Why has that delay occurred? What is the indicative timeline now? The Minister of State will appreciate there have been parliamentary questions asked across the political spectrum as well as letters to the Minister and questions from local councillors. There has been an indication that the project will go to tender later this year and may be on site in 2025. Will the Minister of State give a commitment that that is the timeline? Can we rein that in a bit and move ahead earlier?

There are considerations in respect of this project. There is considerable demand for primary school places in the Dunshaughlin area. The planning permission relating to this project has taken time. Why has there been a delay? What is the indicative timeline? In respect of contingency, what is to happen in the meantime? There will be enormous demand for school places. This is a multidenominational school, the only one in the vicinity, and there is significant demand for places. There are real space constraints on the existing site. The school is on the grounds of Dunshaughlin GAA and there is no space to move out within the footprint. I understand the Department is taking the lead. With the existing rental contract, will additional capacity be brought onto the site? How is that going to be facilitated for the academic year 2024-2025? I would like to hear from the Minister of State on those three substantive points.

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