Michael Brennan (Progressive Democrats)

I welcome the Minister for State to the House and thank Senator Finucane for sharing his time on this matter. I support the points raised by the Senator. The school in Croom has 729 pupils and a staff of 65, and it is to take in 150 students next September under the common enrolment system. It is a very valuable campus situated on less than six acres of fully serviced land in the centre of the town.

The concerns of the community, including the parents, were raised at recent meetings with the VEC in an effort to clarify the committee's and Minister's commitment to providing adequate facilities to meet the demand. As Senator Finucane stated, the long-term pupil-teacher ratio is of concern in determining the future enrolment of the college.

The school has attracted students from Limerick city, which has solved the problem for the Minister. However, four years ago, when both Senator Finucane and I were members of Limerick County Council, the Croom town development plan was adopted and the present college facilities were on the lands zoned for educational use. At the time, the VEC was trying to identify adjacent suitably zoned lands. In light of the long-term plan for the town and the ring road, the Department and VEC should consider the surrounding lands to determine how a phased building programme could reach the standard they require.

The college is a tremendous asset to the town of Croom. Suitably zoned and serviced land is scarce and I therefore ask the Minister to address the concerns of the parents and clarify the future enrolment of the school and the timeframe and commitment of the Department in providing the required facilities.