Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach for accepting this matter and the Minister of State is welcome. I wish to raise the matter of Ballintemple national school, better known as Crab Lane, and a new school building project. This is a co-educational school with a current enrolment of around 215 children, eight mainstream class teachers, four learning support resource teachers and a very active and positive principal. The school is on a split site with the main school located on Crab Lane while the infant classes are located on Boreenmanna Road. Thankfully, the project has been part of the Department's new school building programme since March 2017. In September 2017, the board of management agreed a schedule of accommodation with the Department and the project has been progressed to the architectural planning section in the Department but therein lies the road block. It has become a source of frustration, concern and annoyance, which have been expressed to me by many parents who I have met and who are looking forward to the project but want to see delivery. The reason I am raising the issue this morning is because this is a very good school in an emerging area with a split campus that needs to see the project progress quickly so that we can go from planning stage to delivery in terms of construction. I recognise that the Government has invested significantly in education in Cork in terms of capital expenditure but in this case, there is a need to give further hope to the pupils, teachers and parents. I thank the Minister of State for being here this morning.