Lorraine Clifford Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

-----of two primary schools. I thank the Minister of State for that correction. I am sure she will understand, in particular, the frustration faced by the very excellent principal of this school, who has done everything in her power to facilitate the Department and the learning environment for these students.

St. Molaga's senior national school is an excellent school. It has an excellent reputation in Balbriggan. It has an excellent teaching culture, an open welcoming policy and an excellent tradition in serving the people of Balbriggan. However, they feel completely neglected at this stage.

The extension to St. Molaga's was approved a number of years ago, but the principal hit a brick wall when she attempted to get any information whatsoever from the Department of Education and Skills on the timetable for the building work. As a result of sustained pressure, we eventually got a bit of progress last February when a technical team visited the school. Unfortunately, seven months later, we are no further along this path. The technical report is still awaited. We are now into another academic school year with predicted extreme weather conditions for the rest of the winter. I am very afraid, as is the principal, that the situation will get even worse. They are at breaking point.

I am asking the Minister of State to fast-track the work that has been approved for a long number of years. It needs to be given priority. The school is in a serious state of disrepair. I extend an invitation to the Minister of State to visit this excellent school and meet the principal in order that she can see for herself this excellent school that is housed in dire accommodation. Serious harm is being done to the pupils and all the staff in the school.

I am putting the Minister of State on notice of this very serious situation and the very serious risk to everybody involved in the school.