Deirdre Clune (Fine Gael)

I am glad to have an opportunity to raise the issue of a proposed new national school for Educate Together in Carrigaline, County Cork, which is a growing area. In September 2008, a new Educate Together school was established in temporary rented accommodation and had 20 pupils at that stage. Last September, the school had 150 students and it is expected to have 180 in September 2012 based on current enrolments. Given the projected growth in population in the area up to 2014, the school is expected to have close to 300 pupils.

In January this year, the school opened an autistic spectrum disorder, or ASD, unit following a request from the special educational needs organiser in the area. The unit is very successful and has six pupils to date.

The school was under the impression that it would have a new building start this year. The staff hoped to move in to such a new facility in September 2013. Planning permission for the new school was granted at the end of May. After the planning application was made, the Department of Education and Skills said it was important to the planning process because it expected to have the school under construction and in operation in 2013.

The school meets the criteria applicable to band 11 and is serving a rapidly developing area where the existing educational provision is unable to meet demand for places. That is the category under which this school qualified. The 2013 date has now been pushed out to 2014-15 following an announcement by the Minister for Education and Skills.

Due to its rapid expansion, the school caters for 150 pupils on two separate campuses, which makes communication difficult. It covers six classes, including two junior infant classes. The situation is not ideal for staff, pupils or parents. Children from one family may be on separate campuses which are 1.5 miles apart in a busy town.

There is huge disappointment that the new school project has been delayed. The Minister has said that 80% of his Department's budget goes on staffing and I know his capital expenditure is restricted. I am not asking that any other school, to which a building programme has been already committed, should be demoted in favour of this particular school. I am asking the Minister of State to examine the matter, however. This request arises from a recent meeting I attended with parents and teachers involved in the Educate Together school in Carrigaline. If, for some reason, funding becomes available - perhaps because another school failed to meet the planning criteria and was not being processed - this school should be looked upon favourably.

The Minister of State probably has the enrolment figures, but I raised this Adjournment matter to articulate the difficult situation facing this school with separate campuses in a rapidly growing town. The enrolment is increasing annually with a new full class of at least 30 pupils or more. In addition, the ASD unit is playing an important role and is very much needed in the Carrigaline area. There are six pupils this year, which is a high intake in a single school. The ASD unit was established on the understanding that the new school project would progress this year for start-up in September 2013.

The Minister of State should bear in mind the severe difficulties facing parents, teachers and students in this school.