Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing this matter to be raised on the Adjournment and welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, to the House. My colleague, Senator Joe O'Reilly, regrets that he cannot be present to participate in the discussion on this matter.

St. Killian's national school, Mullagh, County Cavan, was authorised on 8 November 2006 to commence architectural planning with immediate effect. With the Cathaoirleach's permission, I propose to cite a letter received by my constituency colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Brendan Smith, from the then Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Mary Hanafin, on 8 November 2006. The letter informs Deputy Smith that the project relating to St. Killian's "will be authorised to commence architectural planning with immediate effect". It also states that the Minister for Education and Science was aware of Deputy Smith's concern about the project and outlines her hope that the news conveyed would be of significant benefit to the whole school community. It further states "The building unit of my Department will be in contact directly with the school shortly to outline how the project will progress."

Some 20 months have elapsed and no progress has been made. On 7 February of this year, the principal of the school, Mr. Ronan McNamara, was informed by a departmental official that every proposal for school buildings will be reviewed in the context of the Department's multi-annual school building and modernisation programme. Information on when this review might take place and when schools — particularly St. Killian's — might be informed of the outcome is still not available.

St. Killian's national school continues to grow. There were 98 pupils on the roll in 2000. In September, some 324 pupils will be enrolled there, at which point the board of management will have no choice other than to declare the school full. It is not possible for the board to plan for the future of St. Killian's national school when the Department of Education and Science will not inform it with regard to when adequate accommodation will be provided for the community of Mullagh.

Next September, there will be ten teachers housed in temporary accommodation at the school. This will result in the payment of in excess of €120,000 in rent per annum. The school principal Mr. Ronan McNamara sent a letter — dated 22 May 2008 — to the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, shortly after his appointment in which he stated:

Space around the school is now at a premium, as I'm sure you will appreciate. The time for vague promises is now over. I, on behalf of the whole school community, call on you as the new Minister for Education and Science, to ensure that real progress is made in moving this project forward. As a starting point we need to know when we will be in a position to put the design team out to tender. I look forward to hearing from you on this matter.

Councillor Shane P. O'Reilly has campaigned vigorously in respect of this issue for some time and he has my full support and the support of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Smith. The community at Mullagh deserves a new school and the project relating to it should be progressed without further delay. The Catholic Church has donated a perfect site on which the school will be built. The community at Mullagh is great and will not be found wanting in the context of providing whatever other facilities are necessary.

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has been in contact with the Minister for Education and Science on a weekly basis in respect of it. I urge the Minister of State to ensure that it is progressed as soon as possible.