David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I assume the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, is taking this debate. I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for allowing me raise this matter, which pertains to the need to refurbish the laboratories in the Christian Brothers' second level school in Midleton, County Cork.

Dr. Bill Harris, with whom the Minister is familiar, stated at a recent committee meeting that there is nothing more important than a hands-on approach to science. He said teaching science as a history and mathematics in a theoretical and abstract way will turn students off the subjects. He challenged Ireland to produce an education system that is the best in the world and which is measured by the performance of the students. If we do not get this right, third level research and third level education in general will not matter.

The Minister is probably aware that the school in Midleton was built in the early 1970s, 33 years ago, and virtually nothing has been done with the laboratory since then. The school applied for funding under the summer work scheme but the application was shot down and the school was very disappointed as a result. I note that under the scheme there are a number of criteria to be adhered to, one of which pertains to gas works. Projects are required to ensure that required safety standards associated with the use of gas in schools are satisfied. Those standards do not apply in the school in Midleton because it uses camping gas. The Minister, as a former Minister for Education and Science, will agree this is not acceptable.

I know the Minister has much interest in Midleton and I ask him to take an interest in this issue. He has visited the school and perhaps he will stress to his ministerial colleague in the Department of Education and Science the importance of funding the school as a matter of urgency. The two existing laboratories are in urgent need of refurbishment. The gas supply system, having been in place for 33 years, has broken down and needs to be replaced. The electrical system is inadequate, having given a great deal of trouble in recent years, and the plumbing fittings also need to be replaced. The benches need to be replaced. The display cabinets are of a DIY-type construction and are not up to standard. A third laboratory has long been a necessity, and this is accepted by the Department. It is important that action be taken very soon.

I see we have a changing of the guard across the way.

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am fully briefed.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Fully briefed. I worry when a Minister is late, states he is fully briefed and reads a prepared script in response to Deputies' contributions. Maybe the Minister of State will tell me if we are wasting our time coming to the House at all. My experience is that we hear no more about the issues we raise and that they are shelved somewhere in some report. I ask the Minister of State opposite to take a personal interest in this issue. The school laboratories in question are in urgent need of replacement.

I declare a personal interest in that I have two youngsters attending the school. I am sure the Minister of State will agree that, in this day and age, we need proper, up-to-date, safe laboratories. It is not good enough that a school laboratory has not been upgraded in 33 years. The Minister of State should dig out the relevant file in the Department tomorrow morning and ascertain what can be done for the Midleton Christian Brothers' school. In spite of the odds, the school won a prize in science. One wonders what great work it could achieve if it had proper facilities.

The Minister of State should note that the new science curriculum requires each class to perform at least ten experiments per year. This is impossible in the present circumstances in the Midleton school. It is just not on and it is also unsafe. The Minister should ascertain, as a matter of urgency, what his Department can do to assist this excellent school, which needs assistance after 33 years.

I reiterate the words of Dr. Harris, who stated that if we do not have a hands-on approach to science in second level schools, we are wasting our time and will be left behind no matter what we do in research or at third level. I am sure the Minster of State agrees with this and that he will do his utmost to facilitate and help. I will follow this matter carefully to see if I get a response from the Minister in the coming weeks. If I do, I will not be wasting everybody's time discussing this matter in the House. If I receive no reply, it will not be good enough. I await action on this matter.

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Stanton never wastes words in the House and it is always worthwhile to raise on the Adjournment an important subject relating to science and education. I thank him for raising this matter as it affords me the opportunity to outline to the House the strategy of the Department of Education and Science on capital investment in education projects and the current position regarding an application from the Christian Brothers' secondary school in Midleton, County Cork, received by the Department, for the refurbishment of science laboratories.

The school in question is an all-boys' secondary school, one of four post-primary schools serving the needs of the Midleton area. Enrolments at the school have been declining in recent years. The current enrolment is 426, while the combined enrolment in the four schools in the Midleton area is 1,907 pupils.

The upgrade of the science laboratories is included in an application from the school authorities as part of an overall refurbishment project for the school. With an extension project such as that proposed for the school, the condition of existing laboratory provision is assessed as part of the preliminary analysis of need. Where existing provision is deemed to be inappropriate or otherwise inadequate, either a complete refurbishment is undertaken or, alternatively, brand new facilities are provided. While the need for improved accommodation at the school is acknowledged it was not possible to include provision for this project in this year's school building programme.

The 2004 school building programme at primary and post-primary levels amounts to €387 million and will deliver more than 200 large-scale projects. However, it was not possible to include all necessary projects in one year's programme. The proposed project at the Christian Brothers' secondary school in Midleton is one of a number, which has to be considered in the context of future capital allocation for the provision of improved accommodation.

When publishing the 2004 school building programme, the Department of Education and Science outlined that its future strategy would be grounded in capital investment based on multi-annual allocations. Officers from the Department are reviewing all projects that were not authorised to proceed to construction as part of the 2004 school building programme with a view to including them as part of a multi-annual school building programme from 2005. They expect to be in a position to make further announcements on this matter in the course of the year. The needs of the Christian Brothers' secondary school in Midleton will be considered in this regard.