Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House, but I am somewhat disappointed the Minister had to leave as only she can understand what I have to say. I support the motion moved by the Independent Senators and commend them on tabling it. I have raised the matter of the band ratings of schools several times on the Adjournment.

While the Minister was in the House she spoke about schools in developing areas. Athlone community college is in a developing area but the plans for its development have been dragging on for years. A public meeting has been called for next week, to which all Oireachtas Members have been invited. The new development unit in the Department appears to me to act as another delaying tactic and a cause of confusion for the parents and teachers in Athlone community college. The college went to tender and design stage and has been years waiting for development, but all of a sudden, in response to the matter which I raised on the Adjournment last week, we have been told that a development unit has been set up for developing areas. Athlone has been a developing area for a long time. The school is to cater for 1,000 pupils and already has that number of pupils. Therefore, there is no need for it to go through a procedure involving the development unit. I feel frustrated by the ráiméis that is being thrown at us in this regard.

The principal of a school in Nenagh wrote to me about the summer works scheme. I do not know why he wrote to me because I am from Athlone but I suppose as a Senator I represent all the country. I welcome his letter. The summer works scheme was an excellent scheme and I welcome the announcement of its return. However, what are schools to do this year? The architect told the principal of the school in Nenagh that all areas checked need serious attention and should not be left as they were much longer as they pose a health and safety risk in their current state. No other alternatives to the summer works scheme are available for such works. What is the school to do while its pupils face these health and safety risks? The Minister said the scheme will be available again next year, but what are school principals to do in the meantime?