Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)

I will speak about the construction of two brand-new multi-storey school buildings for the new post-primary schools, Kilkenny City Vocational School and Coláiste Pobail Osraí. These two schools have to be priority projects. Due to increasing numbers, the situation in these schools is unsustainable. They are currently under pressure to provide for existing and future student needs. The next phase of this project will be to release the funding and appoint the contractor. I hope - please God - that in a short time we will be turning the sod, which will make it real for people on the ground.

I acknowledge that €6 billion has been invested in schools nationally in the past five years and I welcome the July announcement of a further €7.5 billion for the Department of Education and Youth under the national development plan. However, this is a new chapter for both these schools We are looking forward to their development and to welcoming students into new buildings in the not-too-distant future.

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