Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State. For seven years, I was chairman of the Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board. Approximately six years ago, we got word that there was to be a new Kilkenny City Vocational School and that a new Gaelcholáiste in Kilkenny for those who want to be taught through the medium of Irish was going to begin its journey. These were to be two new schools in a campus project on a brand-new greenfield site. This particular project has been stuck at stage 2b for the last number of months. In other words, we are ready to go. Everything has been done. We just need the nod from the Department so we can get shovels in the ground and get this project started. The difference that this particular campus will make to Kilkenny City Vocational School and to Coláiste Pobail Osraí, a campus for over 1,000 students in Kilkenny city, which has a growing population, will be absolutely massive. I implore the Minister of State to highlight the issue and fast-track this project, get the announcement out to the principals of the schools and allow the shovels into the ground so that these projects can start and these schools and the school community can benefit as soon as possible.

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