James Bannon (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State for taking this motion, the purpose of which is to highlight need for the provision of an update on the status of the application by Scoil Etchen, Kinnegad, County Westmeath, for a proposed building project, which is urgently required to facilitate the demand for places at the school caused by the increased population levels in the Kinnegad area. Everyone who has moved into the area is welcome to the constituency.

Kinnegad is a rapidly expanding area, with a population that has more than doubled, from 652 in 1996 to 1,429 according to the 2002 census — it is still rising — as a result of increasing pressure for housing in the area from Dublin commuters. Housing estates are springing up to accommodate the increasing overspill from Dublin and because those houses are primarily occupied by families, there is a much great demand for school places than was the case ten or even five years ago.

St. Etchen's is the main provider of primary education in the area and urgently needs to commence a building programme for extra classroom and other facilities. I understand that two extra prefabs have been approved for the school by the Department but it is essential to the continued expansion of the enrolment at the school that more substantial and long-term accommodation be provided. The parents and board of management want a substantial and new school building to be provided.

The building programme for this school has been the subject of questions in both Houses of the Oireachtas since the early architectural stage was initiated in 2002, when more than 200 people were accommodated in prefabs. It is now 2007 and the school is still awaiting suitable accommodation. That is not good enough at a time when successive Ministers state the country is awash with money. There is a great deal of annoyance in this and other areas in my constituency regarding the lack of school facilities for primary and post-primary students.

The school authorities are anxiously awaiting approval of stage 3 documentation — detailed drawings, cost plan and reports — which were submitted to the Department in April 2006 in order to seek planning permission and to bring the project to tender and construction, as a matter of urgency.

I have been engaged in networking and canvassing in the area in question and every person to whom I spoke referred to the lack of places in the school in question. I urge the Minister of State to do whatever is in his power to ensure that the project is delivered on. Perhaps I might be in a position to deliver good news to the people on Kinnegad as I return home this evening.