Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)

I thank the Minister of State for his response. It is welcome that the stage 2(b) submission made by the school is getting attention from the Department but what is important here is that we move things along as quickly as possible. After 29 years, the school and the entire school community have waited long enough. At this point, they have been through five principals while waiting for this school. It is a difficult position to put a school principal and board of management in, with some 300 children enrolled in the school and a growing waiting list. It is also difficult for a school that very much wants to do more for special education by opening special classes and being proactive in making that happen for children in the community.

I am constantly contacted by parents who are struggling to receive and access a special class place for their child. In this case, I was told about some children last year in south Roscommon whose siblings were in the school in Ballinasloe but their brothers and sisters could not attend because the school is at capacity. The real reason - I emphasise the need for progress on this - is the position the school is in across two sides of a busy road.

I again press upon the Minister of State that while I appreciate there has been movement relating to the stage 2(b) submission, this is the third 2(b) submission to go in and this really needs to be the last one. We need to see progress. We need a timeline for when we will see this project go to tender. We need to see the sod turned and construction begin. This has gone on far too long. Many of the children of Ballinasloe should have seen this school and of course, many of them will have gone on to secondary school and far beyond that by the time we get to this point. Again, there is a safety concern. I would appreciate if the Minister of State would bring this back to the Minister.

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