Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

I raised the matter of the urgent necessity for a new primary school in Kilfinane, County Limerick, previously in the House and also when I was a Member of the Dáil. There was great excitement in the Kilfinane area when a new school was promised during the last general election campaign. However, there is now bitter disappointment as in excess of three years has elapsed without the project even advancing to design stage. The pupils, teachers and parents have put up with intolerable facilities. It is grossly unfair of the Department to allow this situation to drag on and the Minister for Education and Science should reassure people locally and advance this project as an urgent priority.

There is no need to elaborate further about the unsatisfactory existing structure, which dates back to 1909, as the Minister and her officials are fully aware of this. Since 1998 the Department has been aware of the necessity of a new school. It is imperative the Minister include it in the 2005 multi-annual school building programme as it was promised serious consideration in a previous response I received in the Seanad. I look forward to a positive reply that will give reassurance to the pupils, parents and teachers that progress has been made in advancing work on Kilfinane primary school.