James Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In reference to the previous speaker, there is absolutely no doubt that Irish people are low in vitamin D and many GPs now do a routine check on this. I would advise anyone to get their vitamin D levels checked when having a blood test. Lack of vitamin D is quite common, even more so in people of African origin in this country because of the low sunlight hours here.

This morning I wish to raise an issue that is of both local and national importance. At present, there is a community school in Skerries in which many children who live in Skerries cannot get a place. This has been going on for some time. It was agreed some years ago to provide additional temporary accommodation. Officials from the Department of Education and Skills were out last December, which is almost a year ago, but nothing has been done about providing permanent classrooms for this ever-increasing population. Fingal has the youngest population in Ireland, if not in Europe. Houses are being built and the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, has announced plans for another 250 to 300 houses in Skerries, in addition to other housing being built by private developers. These families will be coming into a lovely area in which to live but there are no places in the schools.

The Minister for Education and Skills has done a brilliant job since taking over. I would like him to consider the situation and say whether there are not enough resources in the building unit in the Department. Is that the problem? This is not unique to Skerries. The same problem arose in Rush, which awaits a site for a new school, it is the same in Swords and Balbriggan. There is land earmarked there for 1,200 houses and the schools are already full. I am sure this applies across the country, not just in Fingal. We need to have a review of the funding of the building unit and the Minister ought to come in and tell us what plans he has to address this. Our children are our future. We pride ourselves on giving them the best education we can but if they have not got a school place how can we do that? How will they compete in an ever-globalised world against the best in the world unless they have the best education?We know we have the brightest and best in the world in this country. One need only look at those who have qualified in science, medicine and industry, including captains of industry. Let us give our children the best chance possible. A year is a long time in the life of a child. Nothing has happened concerning these five community schoolrooms that were supposed to be put in Skerries community college. Many children there do not have a place for next year as a result.