Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. He dealt with an Adjournment matter on this issue before on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills.

There are three post-primary schools in Ennistymon, County Clare, providing educational support to approximately 600 students in buildings which are outdated, unsuitable and located in different parts of the town. In order to provide students with the suite of subjects which would be expected in a normal educational environment, students have to commute by foot from one school to another, irrespective of the inclement weather in winter or summer or the time that is wasted in terms of lost academic hours. Of even more concern is the fact that there are serious health and safety issues with children crossing roads to commute between two or three different parts of the town and schools which are located at opposite ends of the town. There are also other health and safety issues. There is always a threat to young people who travel on foot from one school to another. The situation is unacceptable.

Previous Governments promised a new community school would be built which would provide the necessary equipment, such as computers and science facilities, and that students under the one roof would have the same choice of subjects, comfort and educational supports available in many other towns with community schools. Too often an excuse was given that there was an issue with the transfer of land from the religious orders to facilitate the construction of a community school. My understanding from the Sisters of Mercy is that there are no further hurdles preventing the school moving to the design and build phase. I understand all lands which were required to be transferred to the State have been transferred. The matter is now on the desk of the Minister for Education and Skills and the school building unit in Tullamore in terms of moving the project forward.

It is appalling that in this day and age, and given the fact that this school has been promised for over 30 years, teachers, who are doing their very best to provide the best possible support and teaching service they can to students, are still operating out of cramped, overcrowded buildings which are not fit for purpose and students have to commute between one school and another to obtain a choice of subjects, which may not even be an optimum choice. The students in Ennistymon are being discriminated against compared with other towns, not just in County Clare but throughout the country. For the life of me I cannot understand why the project is not proceeding as a matter of urgency. I will continue to raise this matter on the floor of the Seanad until I get a satisfactory response. A working group comprising trustees, teachers and public representatives is now trying to move the process forward. It held a meeting two or three weeks ago and it seems as though the project has stalled. That is unacceptable. It is a pity the Minister for Education and Skills is not here to reply but I look forward to the reply from the Minister of State.