Marie Sherlock (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for coming into the House today to respond to my questions. My Commencement matter is on Clonturk Community College, a new secondary school in Dublin 11. The school has enjoyed phenomenal success since it was established a short number of years ago, where demand far exceeds supply and there has been a large expansion in the number of places offered by the school year on year. There is a real concern, however, with the accommodation at the school. It has already needed temporary accommodation for this school year and it is seeking temporary accommodation for next year. The key issue is that the school cannot continue to ask the Department for temporary accommodation. We need a clear commitment to have a permanent building for this school provided for the start of 2021.

The crucial matter is that it is extremely costly for the Department of Education to provide temporary accommodation and it is places stress on those involved in the school to be continually worrying about school accommodation. We cannot allow a situation where the school building effectively defines, limits or constrains learning outcomes. I know the school staff are extremely committed to making the existing arrangements work but the school is under significant pressure. We need a clear commitment for a new school building sooner rather than later. I am appealing to the Minister of State to relay to the Department the need to have the school building project completed in a timely and straightforward fashion. I am extremely frustrated with the school buildings section of the Department.

I am dealing with two other schools. Pelletstown Educate Together national school is a new school in a similar situation. It has no certainty about securing a permanent school building and we are told there are delays. I am also dealing with a school in Dublin 1, Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire. We are told the Department is in negotiations to give away part of the school yard to an adjoining building in the city centre for use as a right of way.I wrote to the Minister and the Secretary General of the Department over two weeks ago but have received no reply. There are very distressed parents and a board of management with no clarity on what is happening in the school.

The planning of schools must be done in a far better manner. We cannot set up schools but have no clarity for those schools as to when they will get proper accommodation. I particularly ask in the context of Clonturk Community College that an immediate plan be put in place for the start of 2021 to progress the development and delivery of a new school building.