Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Ann Phelan, to the House.

This Commencement debate follows on one I raised a number of weeks ago about the Holy Family school in Cavan, the building project and the funding requirements in order to get it to move on to stage 2(b). It follows on the response I got that day and the questions raised in regard to demographic need, population growth and how the Department bases its funding allocations on those criteria. I want to highlight the plight of the Holy Family school in Cootehill and to deal more substantively with the particular issue I raised regarding the criteria.

After 15 years and numerous education Ministers, the Holy Family school in Cootehill is still in limbo in respect of the provision of funding for the new accommodation. This is an outstanding school with a committed staff, a supportive board of management and an active parents' association. I have been very impressed on numerous occasions by the commitment of the school's staff and parents. However, the urgent need for a new school is obvious to any visitor to the school who has seen the cramped conditions with which both adults and children must contend. Since the start of this month, the school is at the architectural planning stage, but it is not on the five year programme for investing in infrastructure or jobs package. When I looked at the responses to recent parliamentary questions on school funding, it was on the last status list. The school is currently in the process of moving from stage 2(a) to 2(b) and, hopefully, that process will be completed shortly.

Unfortunately, since I came to this House and since this issue was first raised by me and other representatives, we seem to get the same response and there seems to be no commitment to making funding available for this project. The stock answer we have been getting from the Department is that priority is afforded to where population growth has been identified and that there is a demographic challenge facing the education system. As I am sure the Minister of State is aware, the Holy Family school in Cootehill caters for people with severe and profound learning disabilities, moderate and multiple learning disabilities and for people with autism. Reports forecast that this coming September, the student population is set to increase from 143 to over 155 for the first time ever.

If we look at the growth in the school figures over the past number of years, we see the figures have been steadily rising each year. The school does not want to turn children or parents away when they apply for a place. In terms of planning for a new school, the school has had to change the goalposts repeatedly to keep up with the increased demand for places each year. What needs to happen so that this project can progress to funding stage? What is the definition of "demographic need" and what kind of population growth does the Department consider necessary?

In these circumstances, in particular, parents do not have the luxury of being able to pick and choose where to send their children. The catchment area for this school is beyond just a parish, town or county. The school caters for a number of counties and parents must send their children here to avail of the high standards the teachers and staff there provide. This is a particular demographic with a real and pressing need and, as I said, there is growth in the population that needs to attend this school. The Department and the Minister must consider the need for wheelchairs and other specialised equipment required to be used by pupils in the school. The current space is being used to the maximum and it is unfair on the children that they must endure their cramped environment.The teachers, staff and parents are doing their best but it is now time for the Department to step up. There is no more time for excuses or dragging heels. When the project reaches stage 2B, it needs to be prioritised for funding as matter of urgency. The project meets the criteria concerning population growth and demographics, although perhaps not according to the standard understanding thereof. There is a demographic that needs the school and the population is growing. There is no choice available to parents. They have to send their children to school here. The catchment area for the school is very wide and the school services a number of counties. The demand is increasing every year. The school needs to rebuild and this must not be put on the long finger. I encourage the Department to act on this.