Frank Feighan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for taking the time to deal with this important matter, which I am pleased to have the opportunity to raise. The standard of primary education provided by teachers in Carrick-on-Shannon is second to none. Children attend Scoil Mhuire from all social classes and the town has become home to children of many nationalities. However, it is very evident that we must assist Carrick-on-Shannon, as a growing town, to address the urgent need for the provision of a more modern, fit-for-purpose school for the primary education of its young people.

I want to give the Minister of State some background context. Scoil Mhuire, located on the Dublin Road in the town, is the new name for school following the amalgamation of two schools, St. Mary's boys school and the Marist Convent primary school. The amalgamation took place in 2013 and both school buildings are used and are referred to as campus 1 and campus 2. There is a staff of 25 teachers, with a principal and five SNAs. The amalgamated school currently has more than 460 pupils, with numbers predicted to grow as the town population continues to grow. The existing buildings were constructed in the 1950s and 1960s, with additional prefabs at both locations. Unfortunately, because of the increasing capacity problems, a space designated as a play area has been now been used to accompany prefabs for the necessary provision of classrooms. Funding is continually needed to upgrade facilities and pay for repairs to these old buildings. Maintenance poses significant challenges every year.These two main schools are 500 m apart and there is a one-way system on the road which leads to much frustration when parents try to collect the children from both locations at the same time. The physical division also leads to difficulties in communicating messages to staff and pupils at the same time.

The need for a modern school for the community has been an ongoing part of local conversations for more than ten years. I commend my colleague, Councillor Finola Armstrong-McGuire, in Carrick-on-Shannon on highlighting the issues. It is time for the necessary funding to be allocated to progress a new school development. This is what our children deserve. There are a umber of options for sites around the town which could be suitable for development and I understand that the HSE has looked at two options for a new St. Patrick's Hospital development, one of which it has selected. I would be interested to know the position regarding the one it rejected. I know the question must be put to the HSE but the site could be suitable for the location of a new primary school.