Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. I was right that the script has not changed since July and, prior to that, April. The script is the same, unfortunately. The most galling thing about coming in here sometimes, particularly on a Thursday afternoon, is seeing the lack of progress. We are here seven months on and this is still with the building unit undergoing assessment. That is another year lost to kids in terms of preparing for ASD provision in September of next year. This is not an easy fix. The principal of the school will say that himself. I have been in the school a couple of times. There are severe issues with subsidence. The building is falling down. It can be seen quite plainly. The floors are collapsing.

Something to the tune of €1.3 million or €1.4 million is already allocated to remedial works in the existing school. If they were allowed to proceed with the demolition as proposed and build the new classrooms, the overall project would cost €3 to €4 million. That is not a small sum of money but we are throwing grants into a school building that is crumbling when we should take a longer term view and give them a building that is fit for use. I understand the NCSE is looking at other schools. That was stated to me in other correspondence. If you are a parent of a child in Scoil Eoin, it is clear that if your child is not in an ASD class, the only options are to wait, keep your fingers crossed and hope for an ASD class in a few years or take the child somewhere else. Unfortunately, that is the reality facing those parents. The Minister of State is only here to deliver the answer but it is very frustrating for those parents and children.

See this speech in context