Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank him for taking this matter on the need for the Minister for Education and Science to approve the selected tender for the extension and refurbishment at Moyglass national school, Loughrea, County Galway, because the school has waited for more than five years for works to commence.

Moyglass national school has two teachers and 37 pupils. The Department's records classify it as a three teacher school on the basis that it is a base for a language support teacher. As such, the teacher has no place in the school because it only has two rooms.

The school was listed by the INTO among 40 schools unsuitable for human habitation. Were it not for the dedication and commitment of the board of management, parents association and principal teacher and his staff, the school would have long since been closed for human habitation. All of those concerned have committed their own resources to keeping the school open until the Department takes action.

On 11 December 2001, I tabled a parliamentary question on this issue. The then Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Woods, informed me that the planning stages had commenced. At the time, however, Members were informed that every school was on the list. In January 2002, in response to a further parliamentary question, the then Minister stated that planning had advanced from the previous year. We are at a crucial stage as regards the proposed refurbishment in so far as tenders have been submitted to the Department and the lowest selected. The Department is in negotiations to prune certain items from the tender.

Can the Minister of State ensure the Department will no longer delay this project? It is nothing short of a scandal. Two new classrooms are required together with the refurbishment of existing classrooms to allow facilities to be converted for an all-purpose special needs room as well as the other facilities required for a school of this size which delivers first class education under particularly bad conditions. Windows are falling out, dampness is visible everywhere and there is little or no heating. This description clearly indicates that were it not for the patience of all involved, the school would have long since closed.

This was one of the schools listed in the media three years ago and progress has since been slow. I welcome this opportunity to raise the matter. I ask the Minister to influence officials not to allow it remain on their desks one day longer than is necessary. The tender will be approved and the builder will be on site. If credit is handed out to people involved in providing top-class education under appalling conditions, this merits an award. The Minister should immediately ask officials to deliver on the matter quickly.