Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)

I just want to join my Oireachtas colleagues from the south east on the significance and the importance of both the N24 and N25 and in bringing it to the next stage. It is a massive issue. It is a corridor from Rosslare Harbour from Belview right cross to Cork and over to Limerick. I want to thank the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, for his engagement with myself and other Oireachtas colleagues in trying to get this project over the line. I look forward to seeing announcements today and in the coming weeks.

Specifically, I want to speak about the delays in the schools building programme. Before I say anything, I will start by paying tribute to all of the school community - the teachers, the principals, the parents and the ancillary staff. The emphasis on education that this Government and the Irish people have is absolutely unbelievable and fantastic, but we need a timeline for delivery. In my constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny, there are about 15 different projects that are stalled at the moment. It is not good enough. Education is the heartbeat of this country and it has meant this country has been able to thrive and prosper on national and international stages. We need to make sure we have top-class infrastructure and facilities for our students to go to. I visited a school last week with the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan. It was Duiske College in Graiguenamanagh. It is a fantastic school and the heartbeat of that rural area. There are, however, prefabs in that school that are older than myself. If the Minister of State does not mind me saying it, they are probably even older than himself. It is in a shocking condition. We need investment in these schools, but for some reason, things have seemed to be getting stuck at the stage 2b. This is a huge concern and huge worry for schools.

Coláiste Abhainn Rí  in Callan, Borris College, St. Mary's CBS in Carlow, Duiske College in Graiguenamanagh and Scoil Mhuire National School in Mooncoin are all ready to go. The students and parents deserve it. I implore the Minister of State to do his best to try to get these programmes fast-tracked and to give a timeline for delivery.

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