Vincent P Martin (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister of State said, you would think the difficult part was getting planning permission. That is long since secured. A permanent building with sufficient facilities and indoor and outdoor space would do so much to support the students and others, including the staff, and provide stability, facilities and space so the school could naturally grow and accommodate more students with additional educational needs. Delaying the tendering for a permanent building will only result in additional costs to the State and displace students who require additional supports and who are being let down and whose school experience is not what it should be.

I am asking the Minister of State to talk to his colleague, the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, and to please give us that assurance. We are not looking to the past; that is for another day and there should be an investigation about this delay. We are trying to look forward here and to be positive. I am asking the Minister of State to do all using his influence and power and to talk to his fellow Government Minister.

This system will have to be overhauled. We have a school community here doing heroic work. It is really keen and anxious and it deserves to take the next steps but it is being held back by red tape in the Department and it is just not good enough. I thank the Minister of State for his presence today and ask him to talk to the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, to get things moving and translate words into action without any further unnecessary delays. Gabhaim buíochas.