Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise the issue of the provision of a new school for the Holy Family school in Cootehill, County Cavan. After 15 years, numerous Ministers with responsibility for education and countless false starts, the Holy Family school in Cootehill remains very much in limbo in regard to the provision of new accommodation.

As can be attested by many, the school is an outstanding facility, with a committed staff, a supportive board of management and an active parents association. On a visit I paid to the school, I was very impressed by the dedication of the staff and the commitment of the parents, particularly when we take into consideration the premises and existing resources. The urgent need for the provision of a new school is obvious to any visitor to the school or to anyone who speaks to parents or staff who have experienced at first hand the cramped conditions pupils and staff must contend with.

As of the start of this month, the new school is at the architectural planning stage, but it is not part of the five-year programme for investment in infrastructure or jobs package. When I looked at recent parliamentary questions on school funding, this school was on the last status list of school building projects. Unfortunately, since I came to this House and since this issue has been raised by me and other public representatives and members of the community, we have been receiving the same reply to our questions in regard to this school. There seems to be no commitment to make financial provision for the project.

The Minister may not be aware that the Holy Family school in Cootehill caters for people with severe and profound learning disabilities and moderate and multiple learning disabilities and for people with autism. Reports forecast that in the coming September the student population will increase from 143 to in excess of 150 for the first time ever, with 21 new children expected to start in the autumn. The school and board of management do not want to turn children away because of the need to bus students to another premises. They do not want to turn students away because there is a need for this vital service.

What needs to happen in order that this project can progress to the funding stage? What is the cause of the delay and how can we overcome that? It is not acceptable that accommodation must be rented to cater for the number of pupils. This is not an issue that has just arisen. The issue has been on the departmental, ministerial and local representative agendas for well over a decade and has cropped up frequently in parliamentary questions over recent years, but there has been little progress. We hear a great deal of talk about the importance of education, cherishing all the children of the nation equally and ensuring those with special educational needs are not disadvantaged in our system, but the reality tells a different story. The test is delivery in the classroom.

The premises in Cootehill are not fit for purpose and are too cramped. The teachers and the staff are doing sterling work. Without their dedication and without the tireless work and campaigning of parents and the community, the situation would be even worse. I am sure that, due to the extensive lobbying on the issue, the Minister for Education and Skills is aware the premises are not fit for purpose. We need to deal with bottlenecks in the system as a priority. This is an essential spend rather than a discretionary one, so we need to deal with the problems and overcome them as soon as possible.