Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply and welcome the fact that the very urgently required improvement works to the school building will be done as soon as possible. The emergency works will need to be substantial and, having gone through the building, I know it is in bad condition. I would like a commitment to the entire project as soon as possible because the building is approximately 45 years old and the wear and tear of 500 or 600 students on an annual basis means it has suffered the effects of time and needs repair.

I welcome the specific commitment but I am still concerned that there is a level of generality about the other one. I will take the Minister of State's bona fides but I urge the Department to get in there and do a comprehensive job soon.