Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach as ucht deis a thabhairt dom labhairt ar son an rún seo, a bhaineann le hábhar ríthábhachtach. Tá mé an-bhuíoch go bhfuil an Aire é féin sa Seanad chun na ceiste seo a phlé.

I welcome this opportunity to raise on the Adjournment the absence from the schools building programme 2012-16 of Eureka secondary school in Kells and O'Carolan college in Nobber. Details of the Government's schools building programme were announced the other day by the Minister for Education and Skills. In so far as they went, I was pleased but quite a number of schools on the list are complete or practically complete. In fact, the only school in north County Meath on the list is Moynalty, which is practically complete.

Two major schools in north County Meath, which were to go into architectural planning - Eureka secondary school in Kells and O'Carolan VEC college in Nobber - were not on the list announced by the Minister. Both these schools are fantastic institutions in their own right and both come very high up in the school league tables, whatever one may think of such tables. They are two rural schools and would greatly benefit from new school buildings. They need such buildings to cater for the expected increase in population in their catchment areas, as well as dealing with current demand.

The previous Government announced extensions for Nobber and a new building for Eureka, which is the only all girls' school in north County Meath. O'Carolan college is one of the few rural second-level schools of its type in north Leinster. In January, I raised the case of Eureka as an Adjournment matter. I was quite pleased with the reply and thanked the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, for the positive progress that was being reported from the Department. I was happy to welcome the announcement and everything seemed fine until the school did not appear on the list. Perhaps the Minister can now outline to the Seanad why Eureka was not included in the programme announced on Monday. Why are both Eureka secondary school in Kells and O'Carolan college in Nobber absent from the list? These buildings are needed and local people want to know why they have not been included on the list. I know the Minister has a get-out clause in his statement which says that some projects might fall off the list while others might be added. We do not want "ifs" of "buts" however. The people of the area require absolute clarity concerning the Minister's plans for those school buildings.