Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

I thank the Chathaoirligh for allowing me to raise this matter. Cuirim fáilte roimh an tAire Stáit, an Teachta Seán Haughey. I am raising this issue in connection with St. Francis College in Rochestown. It concerns the success story of a school that went through lean times. The Capuchin Order made a brave decision to appoint a lay principal, and the school has made a tremendous leap forward in its quest to attract a new pupil intake. It has become a pivotal player in the provision of education in Cork. A graph from the school shows the increase in enrolments from 158 to 534 pupils in recent years. That is a measure of the success of the collaborative approach of the management, teaching and other staff, parents, pupils, past pupils, the Capuchin Order, and a great principal and vice-principal. The school comprises two sixth-year classes, two fifth-year classes, three fourth-year classes, five second-year classes and five first-year classes. That indicates how well the school has done. The school is at bursting point, however. When it comes to providing places for first-year students, it can take an allocation of 140 plus, but no more than that. There are far more applicants than places available at the school. That presents a dilemma because just up the road the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, recently opened a new primary school. Therefore the catchment feeder area for this school is the fastest growing in the Cork metropolitan area.

The growth in the school population puts a strain on services being provided, not least in class sizes but also on infrastructural facilities, such as assembly areas, a games room, lockers, a library and toilet facilities. The school's full capacity has been reached and it is housed in an old building. The school's evaluation report noted that laboratories need to be replaced and new language labs created. The school has applied for a new building. I understand we are in a recession, but if we are serious about educational provision such building projects must be provided.

Last Monday, the Minister, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, made a virtue of the Department's capital programme in a time of recession, so this opportunity to provide a new school building for the Rochestown College campus should not be overlooked. I understand the Department has been offered a green site on which the new school could be build.

The evaluation report emphasises the school has a bright future, including a collaborative approach and a positive outlook. It has enjoyed good results with a good cohort of students and a great staff team. It has taken all the right approaches, including changing its status to that of a co-ed.

The school's enrolment numbers are increasing, but does that mean it must turn students away if it reaches capacity? I hope it does not because the catchment is one of the biggest in the Cork urban area. The Department of Education and Science has a responsibility to support the school in providing quality education on a new purpose-built facility. I look forward to the Minister of State's reply.