Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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I raised this issue previously on the Adjournment a number of years ago and raised it in various Dáil questions, yet the school concerned, Gaelscoil Bharra in Cabra, Dublin 7, is still in prefabs today. Since my words made no difference or impact on the Minister, her Department or the Government, I will read a letter from the teaching staff of the school, which I hope will help to force some action on the issue. The letter, which was sent to their local elected representatives, reads:

A chara,

We are writing to you as a united team to ask you to highlight the case of our school which is now, unbelievably, in its 12th year in prefabs. Gaelscoil Bharra was founded in Cabra in 1996, has over 220 pupils and has been a resounding success.

I can certainly verify that. The letter continues:

However, 12 years after opening, we are no nearer to securing a permanent building for our children. We have absolutely no faith in the Department of Education and Science, whose actions since 1996 have been pathetic. The prefabs are dangerously over crowded and the Department is in breach of its own guidelines regarding classroom space, play areas, safety and so on.

We have continually campaigned for a school building, canvassed our local representatives since 1996 and the school has been highlighted in the national media. It is an absolute scandal that despite all the talk, nothing has happened. We continue to educate the children to the highest standards, as evidenced by recent inspections, yet the Department is failing miserably to provide decent facilities. We are exasperated, very angry and frustrated. We are now in consultation with our union and are even considering industrial action, as nothing else has made any difference.

We ask you to highlight our plight and to raise the issue with the Minister for Education and Science.

Is muidne, múinteoirí Gaelscoil Bharra.

Dar ndóigh, sheoladar an litir sin chugam i nGaeilge chomh maith. Ba mhaith liom a rá arís go bhfuil sé dochreidthe — ní thuigim é — go bhfuil a leithéid ag teacht ó Rialtas a deireann go dtugann sé tacaíocht don Ghaeilge. Cuirfidh mé mar seo é — tá réabhlóid cultúrtha ar siúl i gceantair lucht oibre i gCabra i mBaile Átha Cliath. Tá obair iontach á dhéanamh ag an bpobal sa cheantar sin. Tá imeachtaí gaelscoile, naíonra, club Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, Glór na nGael, feachtas frithdrugaí, ranganna Gaeilge, ciorcail comhrá, ranganna ceoil agus go leor eile ar siúl ann. Nuair a chuireann muintir na háite iarratais isteach go dtí an Roinn Oideachais agus Eolaíochta ag lorg cabhrach, níl an Roinn sásta an cabhair sin a thabhairt dóibh.

Today there was a special Dáil debate on the Government's support for the Irish language. Here we have a test case for that support and the Government has failed miserably. As far as I am aware, the problem is simple enough. There is an available site beside the existing school prefabs and all that is required is that an acceptable leasing arrangement be made with St. Finbar's GAA club, which has the site on a long-term lease from Dublin City Council. I trust that whatever difficulties exist will be clearly identified in the Minister's reply, with a timescale within which the issues will be resolved and progress made.

A week before the last two general elections, the Taoiseach, in whose constituency the school is located, circulated a letter to every resident in Cabra from the Minister for Education and Science stating categorically that, between himself and the Minister, they would sort out the issue, but nothing has happened in the six months since the last general election, nor indeed in the five years since the previous election. If the Taoiseach had approached me for support, as he approached Deputy Finian McGrath after the recent election, this school would have been top of my agenda and the problems there would have been sorted out by now.

Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising the matter as it affords me the opportunity to outline the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and to outline the position regarding Gaelscoil Bharra. Modernising facilities in our 3,200 primary and 750 post primary schools is not an easy task given the legacy of decades of under-investment in this area as well as the need to respond to emerging needs in areas of rapid population growth. Nonetheless, since taking office, the Government has shown focused determination to improve the condition of our school buildings and to ensure the appropriate facilities are in place to enable the implementation of a broad and balanced curriculum.

In 2006, more than €500 million was invested in schools infrastructure and this funded the delivery of in excess of 1,300 building projects. This compares with just more than €90 million provided for school buildings in 1997. Under the national development plan, €4.5 billion is being invested to improve existing school buildings and provide additional accommodation for an expected growth of 100,000 in the schoolgoing population in the coming years. Together with the improvements in planning that have been put in place, and those that are provided for in the new programme for Government, this will enable the Department of Education and Science to meet the needs of developing areas into the future. I am sure the Deputy will agree this record level of investment is a positive testament to the high priority the Government attaches to this sector.

Turning to the specific matter in hand, Gaelscoil Bharra NS is a coeducational all-Irish national school. The school had a September 2006 enrolment of 218 pupils and the enrolments in the school have been on an upward trend of 12% in the past five years. The school has a current staffing of principal plus eight mainstream teachers and one permanent learning support teacher. I can confirm that the Department has an application from Gaelscoil Bharra for a new school building. Officials in the school planning section are considering a number of options for the long-term solution to the school's accommodation difficulties. One of these options is the building of a permanent structure on the school's current site. A number of issues have arisen with this proposal. However, it will be pursued in tandem with a number of other options being considered by the Department. The Department acknowledges the need for a solution to the school's accommodation difficulties and is committed to working to achieve a satisfactory solution as soon as possible.

Once again I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline the position on this school project and to highlight the enormous work being undertaken by the Department in implementing the school building and modernisation programme to ensure infrastructure of the highest standard is available for all our schoolgoing population.