Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister to the House. It is his second time taking an Adjournment matter on education from me. I will not complain this time. On the last occasion, I was quite irate about the treatment of the Carlow autism group, which I am pleased has been resolved.

This issue is clear-cut. The Minister will be well aware of the Carlow vocational school in the Kilkenny Road. While the building is approximately 30 years old, it is a poor quality building and requires major refurbishment. When a costanalysis of the project was carried out, it was discovered that it would cost almost 90% of what a brand new school building would cost. In 2001, it was decided, correctly, to build a brand new school to the left of the existing school, where the football pitches are situated. When it was built, the current school would be demolished and the football pitches would be located there. This made sense from every point of view.

Since then, the project appears to have died a death and nothing has happened. The Carlow People carried a front page story about the new school in 2001, which created a huge expectation. It is now December 2005 and we are none the wiser. Perhaps the Minister will clarify the position because the staff are getting frustrated as a result of a lack of information and clarity.

I pose the simple question, will the provision of a new school be approved? That is all those concerned want to know. If the answer to that question is positive, when will the new school be built?