Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome Mr. Ronnie Delany who was and still is one of my heroes. I welcome Senator Eamonn Coghlan, too.

Ta mé ag glacadh an díospóireacht seo thar ceann an Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna. Mar a dúirt an Seanadóir, tá an tAire sa Dáil faoi láthair. Glacaim leis go bhfuil an díospóireacht seo an-tábhachtach don Seanadóir Healy Eames, a d'ardaigh ceist Gaelscoil de hÍde in Uarán Mór. B'fhéidir go dtuigeann an Seanadóir cé chomh práinneach is atá an scéal ó thaobh an méid daoine óga atá ag teacht ar an saol faoi láthair. Total enrolment in primary and post-primary schools is expected to grow by níos mó ná 70,000 by 2018 - níos mó ná 45,000 ag an bunleibhéal agus 25,000 at post-primary level. Leanfaidh an fás seo ar aghaidh go dtí 2024 ar a laghad at post-primary level. Recent birth rate data published by the Central Statistics Office show that almost 20,000 births were registered in the first quarter of 2011. Is é seo an méid breitheanna is mó riamh ó thosnaíomar ag comhaireamh na figiúirí sa bhliain 1960. The birth data also show that 19,313 births were registered in the first quarter of 2012. This indicates a continuation of the high birth rates experienced in recent years. In the light of such recent population growth, we will have a much increased enrolment at all levels of education. This is expected to continue in the medium term. It is vital that there is sufficient school accommodation to cope with this increase, as the Senator pointed out.

In order to meet the needs of our growing population of schoolchildren, the Department of Education and Skills must establish new schools, as well as extending or replacing existing schools in áiteanna ina bhfuil an daonra ag fás, ach go háirithe. The delivery of these schools, together with extension projects to meet future demand, will be the main focus of the budget of the Department in the coming years. The five year plan the Minister announced in March 2012 outlines the major school projects planned to proceed to construction over the duration of the plan. This represents a major advance in how the school building programme is publicised. It provides certainty for patrons and school communities, including those at Gaelscoil de hÍde, that the Department is in a position to progress. The schools included in the five year plan know when their projects will proceed to construction. This will facilitate schools in planning to meet the educational needs of children in their areas. I gcás Gaelscoil de hÍde, tá sé pleanáilte go mbeidh an scoil nua á thógáil idir 2015 agus 2016.

The Senator will appreciate that the scheduling of schools within the plan takes into account the funding available, the progression of other major projects required to meet significant demographic needs, the stage of progression reached by individual projects in the architectural design process, the availability of sites, where appropriate, and the technical readiness of projects to proceed. It is not possible to advance all projects in the early stages of the programme. Maidir leis an ngaelscoil seo, b'fhéidir go mbeidh an Seanadóir sásta an scéal seo a ghlacadh ón Aire: contracts have been signed and acquisition is expected to be completed by the end of mí Márta i mbliana. Once the site has been acquired, the project will be progressed through the architectural planning processes. The Department will be in direct contact with the school.

Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Seanadóir arís as ucht an cheist seo a chur faoi bhráid an tSeanaid. Beidh mé sásta na tuairimí a nochtadh anseo a chur ar aghaidh go díreach go dtí an tAire Oideachais agus Scileanna.