Rónán Mullen (Independent)

——because we are educating people for the future for the sake of our society.

I have to hand an extract from the Department of Education and Science's website from April 2005, which lists 124 schools that were to progress through the architectural planning process of the school building and modernisation programme. It states that the schools in question had been assessed as being priority projects. At a meeting with representatives of the Department of Education and Science in November 2007, to which Senator Healy Eames has referred, departmental officials told representatives of Holy Rosary College that they were anxious to progress the project. These are snapshots of a seven-year story.

Given everything that is said concerning physical education, its importance in society, namely, mens sana in corpore sano, and the new emphasis on sport as a necessary part of the curriculum, it is ironic that this excellent school has not had the requisite facilities for years. The sports facilities are a part of the wider extension project that, in progress since 2001, is intended to double the school's size to approximately 5,000 sq. m. The project's design has been approved, but it is stuck on stage 3. Why can the school not get approval to apply for planning permission and to seek tenders? Are school projects being unnecessarily held up as they progress through the system due to a reluctance to spend? Is there a fear that, when they reach tender stage, the Department will need to tell them "No" for money reasons? Given the number of years that have passed and the Department officials' apparent enthusiasm for the project, there seems to be no good reason for not allowing Holy Rosary College to progress to the tender stage.

In 2007, minor technical design matters were raised at a meeting of the various parties involved, but those questions were answered in full. Since the end of November, there has been no word. An unaccountable delay is frustrating the ability of an excellent school and committed staff in a supportive community to do what they do well, that is, provide top quality education in east County Galway. Given that the school was on the 2005 priority list, we would be grateful if the Minister of State could provide us with good news to the effect that Holy Rosary College is to be allowed to proceed to planning and tendering stages post haste.