Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

It is a great show of solidarity. This issue relates to Coláiste Chiaráin in Croom, County Limerick. Recently, a deputation of parents met me to express their concern at the lack of activity in replacing the old school with a new structure. The existing school was built over 20 years ago and at that stage it consisted of five classrooms, a staff of 12 and a student population of 86. It is now recognised locally and nationally for its commitment to the provision of quality education to students of all abilities and denominations. The school has an unrivalled subject choice for State examinations and has been highly acclaimed for initiatives in information technology.

The difficulty facing the school is due to its success because student enrolment has soared to 729 pupils, with a complement of 65 staff. The present school campus is contained on a site of less than six acres and all of the green areas have been eroded to accommodate 50 temporary prefabricated buildings. As a result, there has been a depletion of playing fields, there is no gym and assembly and canteen and staff facilities are totally inadequate. It is clear that Coláiste Chiaráin has outgrown its boundaries due to its success.

The school was invited to join the common applications system for Limerick city and county because of its progress and success. This process will yield up to 150 students for enrolment from September 2007, surely an expression of solidarity from parents regarding the educational success of the school. Parents are frustrated because they feel there is a lack of motivation on the building of the new campus and that the project is still at the concept stage.

The recent meeting held between the school's parents council and the vocational education committee led parents to the conclusion that the VEC has not yet delivered a site and they feel a controversy is growing around long-term pupil enrolment. Parents are very frustrated at this delay and I raised this issue today hoping the Minister for State will give a response indicating that progress is being made on this matter.

Documentation I received indicates that parents consider the school should aim to accommodate 800 pupils in the long term. I look forward to the Minister's response.