Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach. I appreciate that this is not the Department of the Minister of State and I appreciate the work that he does in the Department of Justice. The Minister of State is correct in that I am a founding director of youth services and the justice youth diversion programme. I appreciate the support that the Minister of State and his Department is giving to the work of educators, youth service providers and youth workers not just in my own constituency of Dublin Central but right across the country.

I must say to the Minister of State that I am deeply disappointed with this reply which fails to answer the question and completely fails to deal with the fundamental issue that despite the fact that this project has been in process for two decades, and that there are tenders there which can be immediately activated to commence construction, this reply basically says that the tender process will take eight to 12 months and that there will be a 24-month construction period. It is insulting to the people of Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire, of Dublin Central and of the north inner city that the Government and the Department would give this type of a reply. We want a meaningful reply and do not want to hear Ministers talking about the regeneration of the north inner city when there is a proposal on their desks which could be awarded immediately for a tender to commence construction for a new 16-classroom school which would deal with both the educational and social regeneration of the north inner city.

I need the Minister of State to go back to Government and to the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to ask them to take this project off hold and to immediately release an approval so that the construction can commence. Gabhaim buíochas.