Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)

Tuigim go bhfuil an Aire Stáit gnóthach tráthnóna. Tá mé an-bhuíoch gur fhan sé chun freagra a thabhairt ar an gceist seo, a bhaineann le Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh i gCnoc na Cathrach sa Ghaillimh. Ceapaim go bhfuil eolas maith ag an Aire Stáit ar an scoil áirithe seo. Tá iontas agus díomá ar daltaí agus bord bainistíochta na scoile - agus ag duine ar bith a bhfuil baint acu le Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh - nach raibh an scoil san áireamh sa chlár tógála caipitil a d'fhógair an tAire, an Teachta Quinn, le déanaí. Tá go leor gealltanais tugtha don scoil. Tá go leor oibre déanta ag muintir na scoile chun scoil nua a fhorbairt in áit ina bhfuil an daonra ag fás go láidir.

Freastalaíonn os cionn 450 dalta ar an scoil in aghaidh na bliana. Tá sé sin ag tarlú le scór bliain anuas. Tá an suíomh agus an spás ar fáil ó 1998 le scoil a thógáil. Tá an Roinn tar éis an plean atá ann don scoil a cheadú. Tá cead pleanála iomlán iarraithe agus faighte. Tá an teastas tine in ord. Tá an feachtas bailithe airgid faoi lán seoil. Bhí an scoil ar an ngearrliosta a bhí ann maidir le scoileanna nua a thógáil. Bhí an-díomá go deo ar údaráis na scoile nuair a chualadar nach raibh an scoil ar an liosta tógála. D'iarr siad orm an cheist seo a ardú ar a son. Mar is eol don Aire Stáit, beidh cruinniú mór poiblí ar an ábhar seo i nGaillimh anocht, le feachtas mór in éadan an cinneadh seo a thosú. Is ar an mbunú sin atá mé ag roinnt mo chuid ama leis an Seanadóir Healy Eames, mar beidh tacaíocht traspháirtí ag teastáil leis an scoil seo a bhrú chun cinn, mar go bhfuil sé ag teastáil go géar.

As the Minister of State will know, Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh has been seeking a new school for some time. It has been in existence for 20 years and caters for in excess of 450 pupils per year. The school was promised a new school building. The site is available and the specification and plans have been approved by the Department. Planning permission was sought and granted in 2011 and the fire certificate is in order. The school's funding campaign is well advanced and the short list of tenders was completed by the Department in January 2012. The school is therefore appalled by the decision not to include it in the capital building allocation from the Department. There will be a huge public meeting tonight and the school is starting a major campaign. We are seeking cross-party support to have the school reinstated in the programme.

Will the Minister of State explain the reason that Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh was not included in the capital building programme? There appears to be an increase in the local demographic and there is a demand for the school. Why was it not included? Furthermore, what options are available to the school to appeal this decision and to press ahead to get the school it deserves? The Minister of State will probably give me economic arguments as to why this could not be done but, as he knows from previous discussions with me, I do not accept many of those economic arguments. I believe there are many political decisions being taken. One of them is the €100 million per year that is given to private schools in this country. Perhaps some of that money should have been put towards the capital programme for school buildings. I look forward to hearing the Minister of State's reply. Beidh mé ag súil le ceist a chur ar an Aire Stáit, b'fhéidir, ina dhiaidh seo.