Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. He is absolutely correct it is an incredible and exciting project for the school community in Breifne College. I commend the acting principal, Breege Reilly, and all her staff on their commitment and hard work in the best interests of their students. That has been a strong tradition over the years in the school. The staff and school community have worked hard to achieve the best possible integration of all students, and that work has been very successful. The school has a varied and important programme of extracurricular activities for students, including various sporting disciplines, drama and art.

I reiterate the importance the school has placed for many years on what are generally referred to as practical subjects. As the Minister of State outlined, the schedule of accommodation provides for many classrooms that need specialist accommodation. All of us in this House and the wider community speak of preparing people with the skills to meet the needs of our economy and society today, be it construction technology or whatever. We want to ensure pupils and teachers have the best possible facilities for teaching and learning, both from the staff and, most important, student point of view. My colleague Senator Wilson and I have worked closely with Breifne College and Cavan and Monaghan ETB over the years. The Senator is a former pupil of the college.

As the Department is well aware, Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board has an excellent record in delivering building projects. The work will be done properly, within the timeframe and on budget. It has carried out projects for primary schools. That is outside its remit but it has done it in the interests of the local community. I am anxious the ETB and Breifne College get the necessary approval to get to planning permission stage. We all know planning permission takes time so it will be some time before students have the benefit of those new classroom facilities, which will be hugely exciting and positive for the school community. We need to see movement as soon as possible.

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