Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister to the House and assure him that I have far more modest needs than my colleagues before me. All I seek is a new science laboratory for St. Macdara's College in Templeogue in my constituency. I am sure his counterpart in the Department of Education and Science has informed the Minister that an application for an additional science laboratory has been submitted by the school in question and County Dublin VEC in 2002, 2003 and 2004. This school caters for almost 800 pupils and serves the Tallaght and Templeogue areas.

The accommodation currently includes three science laboratories and the inspector for science subjects wrote to the principal recently outlining his full support for the school's request for an additional laboratory. In a letter to the Department of Education of Science, the inspector stated in regard to his report on the school's facilities: "I would be grateful if you would bring the contents of the report to the attention of the relevant staff, including any recommendations requiring development, in the context of school development planning".

The Minister is aware that the Department of Education and Science takes a decision each summer in connection with the summer works scheme. The decision in respect of 2005 will be made soon and I make my pitch for the school in that context. One of the arguments the school management makes is that all first year students study science and there are severe space limitations in this regard. All the school management proposes is that an existing classroom should simply be transformed into a science laboratory.

The school authorities have asked me to point out that the task force on physical sciences, which issued a report some years ago, made clear recommendations in regard to science in terms of increasing the financial envelope for science subjects. The money is clearly needed now rather than tomorrow. Clear recommendations were also made in regard to improving the standing of physics within the school system. I have been asked to put on the record of the House that the additional laboratory which is sought would go some way towards meeting all the school's needs in terms of science facilities. The inspector is on record in correspondence as seeking this requirement.

I ask the Government and the Minister for Education and Science in particular to comply with this basic and straightforward request. The school has sought this facility for the last three years and it is long overdue. I expect the Minister will tell me it is in the programme for this year.