Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

I ask the Minister for Education and Science to provide the House with an update regarding the urgent need for a sports hall for Palmerstown community school and the community of Palmerstown. This sports hall was scheduled by the Department of Education and Science to be built by 2001 as part of an initiative involving the Department of Social and Family Affairs, the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Education and Science. It was one of six sports halls that were to be provided under the drugs task force initiative. In addition, it was required by the school because it was one of the remaining community schools without such a facility. I understand there are only three community schools that do not have a sports hall. Many new schools include such a facility. I require an update from the Minister on this matter.

This is one of six schools where sports halls were to be provided under the drugs task force initiative, but only one of them has gone ahead. I realise the Minister will not be able to give that information to me today, but two schools relatively close to where I live, which are not under the terms of the drugs task force initiative, received approval for sports halls. Obviously those sports halls were needed, but it is worrying that something that was considered necessary for the community under this particular project left Palmerstown community school on the long finger. It is also a concern that only one out of six has gone ahead.

I am a member of the board of management of Palmerstown community school. I will be attending my last meeting tomorrow as I have tendered my resignation with effect from next January. I wanted to make it clear that I am on the board of management, but as a local public representative and as someone who lives near the area, I believe it is an important local issue. Palmerstown does not have that type of facility for the community. It does not have a community centre or anything like it. It was not just the hopes of the school that were raised regarding the provision of the sports hall. There was also a hope in the community that it would have access to it in some way. This matter was agreed and negotiated with the local community and with the school's board of management. The community has lost out in respect of this facility so it is urgent that the sports hall gets the go ahead, as previously promised. I look forward to the Minister's response.