James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for affording me time to raise the need for the Minister for Education and Science to provide an update on a new school building for Athlone Community College. This project should be well into the detailed planning stage, as per a letter of 16 November 2006 from the planning and building unit of the Department and another dated 8 November 2006 from the Office of the Minister for Education and Science. However, the project has been shockingly sidetracked into a further status assessment.

In a letter of 16 November, Athlone Community College was invited to enter the architectural design process during 2006, as one of 80 schools with an application for major development work. The letter goes on to state: "Your school is one of those selected to proceed with immediate effect." The Minister of State will agree that this was stated in black and white. The college is in his own backyard. This letter had been preceded on 8 November of the same year by correspondence to a local representative from his predecessor's office stating that Athlone Community College would be authorised to commence the architectural planning with immediate effect. Some 18 months later, far from having advanced to any stage, let alone architectural planning, the development at Athlone Community College has been at a standstill. This has been the case for far too long to be. Is this a mere coincidence? The key to this delay lies in the words I used earlier. This application is for major development work which, in line with the cutback in all areas since the general election, is a negative factor in its advancement.

If I am on the right track I can only condemn such cost-cutting forcefully. That a Government which wasted so much of the hard-earned money of the Celtic tiger years should make good the Exchequer deficit at the cost of the education of our people is not only a shocking indictment of the Government but it is also extremely short-sighted. The future of this country rests firmly on the shoulders of our students. They not only deserve a good education but a built environment designed to support essential learning.

Despite repeated correspondence from the Athlone Community College committee, the Department of Education and Science has failed to give the chief executive officer a substantive response to his queries. That he was told in April 2008, almost two years after the matter appeared resolved, that the project was currently being assessed is akin to trampling on the promises made to this school, its principal, the board of management, the staff, pupils and parents who have collectively worked so hard to secure this much needed development for their school.

In support of my theory as to why this project has been put on the back boiler, the then Minister's reply of 9 April states: "The project is being assessed, as is the case of all large capital projects." Had this matter been dealt with on an urgent need basis as the situation demanded, the costs would probably be considerably less. Promises prior to the 2002 general election virtually saw schools being built on the spot, but post polling day they failed to rise above the ground. By the 2007 general election, the sky was the limit but unfortunately the financial lining had fallen from the heights and the resources were not available to back up the spin.

A new broom sweeps clean. I respectfully suggest that the Minister of State should start working, clear the dust of indecision and honour the commitment to Athlone Community College. I await a positive response given that the college is in his backyard, just a few miles down the road from where he lives on the Athlone-Roscommon border. I plead with him to deliver for us and the people of Longford-Westmeath and Roscommon.

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I am taking this matter for the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, who cannot be in the House. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to this House the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and also to outline the current position in regard to the building project for Athlone Community College.

Modernising facilities in approximately 3,200 primary and 730 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, the Government has shown a consistent determination to improve the condition of school buildings and to ensure that the appropriate facilities are in place to enable the implementation of a broad and balanced curriculum. The Government has dramatically increased investment in the school building programme from just over €90 million in 1997 to approximately €600 million this year. Under the lifetime of the national development plan approximately €4.5 billion will be invested in schools. That is an unprecedented level of capital investment, which reflects the commitment of the Government to continue its programme of sustained investment in primary and post-primary schools.

As the Deputy may be aware, a developing areas unit was set up recently in the Department to focus on the school accommodation needs of rapidly developing areas, including Athlone. The main emphasis in 2008 is on providing sufficient school places in those developing areas, as well as delivering improvements in the quality of existing primary and post-primary school accommodation throughout the country. Regarding Athlone generally, the developing areas unit of the Department of Education and Science has identified the town as an area of rapid development. In that regard, a decision has already been taken to replace and expand the existing Athlone Community College. The new building, when complete, will cater for 1,000 pupils. The project has advanced to the point where the next step is the appointment of a design team. While the Minister is not in a position to give a timetable for the progression of this project, I reiterate that the need for a new building for the school in question is acknowledged. As is the case with all large capital projects currently on hand within the developing areas unit, their progression will be considered in the context of the multi-annual school building and modernisation programme.

I again thank the Deputy for affording me the opportunity to outline to this House the current position regarding Athlone Community College. He can rest assured of my knowledge of and involvement with Athlone Community College. I hold it close to my heart and will continue to take a personal interest in the development in question.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The Minister said he is not in a position to give a timetable for the delivery of the project. He promised the delivery of it in the run up to the general election in 2007. People will be very disappointed with his negative response. I am disappointed with it. I have to go back and tell my constituents that the Minister will not deliver on this project on time.