Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Haughey. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Chathaoirleach as ucht deis a thabhairt dom an ábhar seo, a bhaineann le scoil náisiúnta i mo cheantar fhéin, a ardú ar an Athló. Tá thart ar 100 dalta ag freastal ar Scoil Chonaill Naofa i mBun Beag. Tá cúig múinteoir ranga sa scoil. Cé gur chuala an scoil le déanaí go gcaillfear múinteoir amháin i mbliana, beidh na húdaráis in ann socruithe eile a dhéanamh in éadan sin. Tá rang speisialta amháin sa scoil. Tá múinteoir tacaíochta agus feabhais amháin sa scoil. Tá an scoil lonnaithe i nGaeltacht Gaoth Dobhair, i gcroílár Ghaeltacht Dhún na nGall. Tógadh an scoil thart ar 50 bliain ó shin. I 1986, thóg tuismitheoirí na scoile dhá seomra breise in áit na prefabs. Faoi láthair, tá seomra na gcótaí sa scoil ag feidhmiú mar leabharlann, oifig an rúnaí, oifig an phríomhoide, ionad na gcruinnithe tuismitheoirí-múinteoirí agus seomra teagaisc teanga. Níl sé sin inghlactha. Tá múinteoirí, daltaí, foireann agus bord bainistíochta na scoile ag lorg go gcuirfí síneadh leis an scoil.

On 25 April 2006, the then Minister for Education and Science gave approval to the school board of management to allow the project proceed to tender and construction for six full-size classrooms and ancillary accommodation. However, this has not materialised. The school applied for new mechanical and electrical services in 1997 but was advised by the Department of Education and Science that it would be better value for money to apply for a rebuild or extension. Planning permission has been obtained for the project, costings have been done and it is waiting for approval from the Department to proceed to tender and construction even though initial approval had been given in 2006.

The board of management met with the Minister for Education and Science on 17 December last and discussed the urgency of this project and outlined the options for work and a number of cost saving measures for the Department and taxpayer. For example the board of management outlined that by choosing, while the school was under construction, to move from the proposed alternative accommodation to other accommodation in the parish, a saving of €320,000 could be obtained. If this project does not go ahead this year, approximately €250,000 would have to be spent on the mechanical and electrical services to make them safe. The total is over €500,000.

The alternative proposal would make the school safe. An engineer's report by Mr. Paul A. Roarty, an electrical contractor, has outlined a number of shortcomings. The electrics are more than 50 years old, the circuit board is completely out of date and there is no proper tripping protection, earth rod or earthing system. The socket circuits are overloaded and not protected from mechanical damage in places and the list goes on. That information has been sent to the Department of Education and Science and was highlighted in the meeting with the Minister just before Christmas.

In addition to the cost saving of €320,000 on rent for alternative accommodation during construction and €250,000 on emergency works if the project proceeds this year, there could be a cost saving due to the economic situation. Anecdotally, the engineer the school has employed has advised there may be a saving of approximately €300,000. This brings the overall saving to approximately €850,000 and a net cost of approximately €1.2 million for the project.

This evening I seek an update. I raised this issue on 8 October and on a number of occasions with the Minister. I am glad the Minister met with the board of management on 17 December but we need to take this project over the line. The pupils, teachers and parish of Gweedore are waiting for this approval. The project is ready to go. There is a cost saving associated with it and in the current climate we should take that cost saving and provide the approval for this project in 2009.