Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the case the Deputy is making, and he makes it well. I also acknowledge the case being made by the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, and Senator Blaney. I have met the board and the principal and acknowledge the great work they do there every single day. I also say that it was only at the end of February that the Department received acknowledgement of availability of the site, and it was only on 21 May that the Department received the application for capital funding to develop the greenfield site. That will have to be considered with regard to the needs of the school and also right across the country in terms of the funding immediately available to the Department. As I have said, that is quite considerable funding of more than €4.8 billion over the past four years. I recently announced another €800 million for 90 projects moving from tender to construction this year and at the start of 2025. There has been enormous investment, particularly in County Donegal. We will have to facilitate the Department with the time to look at what has been proposed.

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