Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Fáiltím roimh an Aire Stáit. I thank the Minister of State very much for taking this matter on behalf of the Minister. I raise the case of Gaelscoil an Inbhir Mhóir in Arklow in County Wicklow. The school has 279 students. It was established in 1998. It operates now, for the most part, out of a series of prefabs dotted around a soccer pitch.

We have a school here that has been in place for more than a quarter of a century. In 2017-18, in discussions between the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board, the Gaelscoil and Gaelcholaiste na Mara, the second level school in the area, agreement was finally reached to the effect that a greenfield site would be provided for these schools, something that was much needed. The school currently has 11 mainstream classes and three special classes. Planning permission in respect of the new stand-alone education campus was granted in August 2022.

Since then, nothing has happened for the school communities. My understanding is that a request was made for a revised proposal as part of the Department's decarbonisation strategy. We are not seeing -and I have been in contact with it - a sufficient level of urgency being shown by the Department with regard to getting this educational campus built. We are, therefore, already into the second year of the planning permission that was granted for five years and not seeing any progress being made on site. We should look at moving to a situation whereby a call for tenders would be issued in September.

The Minister of State knows how long it takes for a new school to be built.I visited the school and saw the condition of some of the prefabs. They are among some of the worst I have seen. There is a brilliant school community but it constantly has to repair and look for new prefabs from the Department. It is not acceptable, particularly where there has been sanction and agreement for constructing a new educational campus.

There had been a break in population growth in Arklow but due to the wastewater treatment plant being constructed in the area it has the potential to become one of the fastest-growing towns on the east coast. The school communities there need support. I have to say from the contact I have had with the Department I totally understand the school's frustration. It had been sanctioned for a school and planning permission was sought but we do not see the level of movement that is necessary. I hope that in the statement the Minister of State will issue today on behalf of the Department, we may see progress. If not, I will ask her to take it back to the Minister, Deputy Foley, and I will seek a meeting with her directly to look at the tender documents issued this autumn.