Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State for that answer. I am a little disappointed that we still cannot give a date for this meeting of stakeholders. I note that the passage of time is attributed for the need to evolve the presentation. I hope that, in a few months' time, we are not looking at the passage of time again as being an issue why this has not progressed to a point where it is being delivered.

The boards, staff and students in Divine Mercy Junior and Senior National Schools stepped up to the plate when they were asked to provide a second special educational needs, SEN, class. They have done so in the hope they will get a new building and they have always responded positively to requests from the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, and the local special educational needs organiser, SENO, to make sure they do have adequate facilities there. They are in an area where there is a large amount of disadvantage. There is a large prevalence of children who have special educational needs. They are well aware and there is an expertise in the school in dealing with that. That is why it is really important that we give them that certainty and clarity about what this process looks like.

I hope when I ask this question again in a month's time that we will have a date for the meeting of all stakeholders that is to review this overall design. It is important that we give people confidence that the fantastic work being done in our schools by our teachers in challenging circumstances, as is the case in their building, is reflected by the Department of education. They are aware, obviously, of the constraints around the planning issue. I do not think there is anyone in that locality who will object to a brand new school building that has been at the centre of the Balgaddy community for so long and has such a proud and great name as an educational institution. It is somewhere I am proud to say that I went to and attended school and I will make it one of the central planks of my time in this House to ensure we do our damnedest to make sure they get the building and investment they deserve. I look forward to getting that certainty from the Department about when that review meeting will happen and when we will get the ball rolling finally on a long-overdue project.

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