Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. This is really good news. I am aware that representatives of Clonlara school are watching this morning. This amounts to a new school, but, for all the reasons I have outlined, it is desperately needed.

There is also an inaccessibility issue because, as one notes if coming in the main doors of the school or going down the corridor, the school is built on two levels. It is a split-level building and there is a very precarious ramp. In the past, there were children who had to use wheelchairs to get up and down it. That is not the case within the current enrolment but the ramp is precarious and nowhere near compliant with building regulations. It needs to be addressed.

There are other issues also, including accessibility to the PE curriculum. We cannot eat up all the school’s open space when we eventually build the new building. Overall, however, the development is positive. I thank the Minister of State and the Minister, but I thank the previous Minister, Deputy Foley, in particular. On 13 September last, she met me and two representatives of the school in Mungret, County Limerick. Subsequent to that, there were visits by the Department. It is going well. The school will be delighted to accept the brief but acceleration the project is key.

I thank the Minister of State and Minister and wish them the best of luck in their new positions.

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