James Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise a very local important issue. It concerns St. Mologa's school in Balbriggan and is affecting 463 children. The school now has 16 prefabs. The children have been in prefabs for years. It is terrible to think that in 2017 children are cold at school during the winter and too hot in the summer. They are on the list for a new school, but there is no firm date and no hard evidence that progress is being made. I congratulate the Minister for Education and Skills on the changes he introduced in the budget to the pupil-teacher ratio and in respect of students with special needs, but these very changes mean that the three extra teachers for the school this year - there will be four next year - will have no classrooms in which to teach the children who represent the future of the country. In a republic of equal opportunities they deserve proper facilities in which to learn and enhance themselves and the country in the future. I, therefore, ask that the Minister be invited to come to the House. I am sure a request is being made to have a Commencement debate on the issue. I will be very happy to share time with other Senators who have a similar interest in it, but it is up to the Cathaoirleach to decide.