Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Tá fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach. As this is my first time addressing the Minister of State in the House, I wholeheartedly congratulate her on her appointment. She is a very strong female voice in the west of Ireland and it is good to see that. I have tabled this matter on behalf of the community of Ennis that attends the Educate Together school there. Educate Together is a wonderful model of teaching young people. It is non-denominational and there is no involvement of the church or any other institution in it.It is an excellent model, the type of which we need to see going forward. Educate Together in Ennis is a particularly good school with excellent teachers. It has an excellent autism class with young autistic students who are doing exceptionally well. It is a small but an effective school.

The problem, however, is that the school needs a new building. It currently operates in prefabs and bits of extensions. The Department of Education has provided several new schools in Ennis and across County Clare in recent years. I welcome the amalgamated secondary school in Ennistymon, my own home town, which is making significant advancement. This particular national school in Ennis badly needs a new building.

Where are we at with this project? Are we in a position to significantly advance it? What type of a timeframe are we looking at?