Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach’s office for selecting this Commencement matter. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, to the Chamber. I raise the matter of my former national school, Scoil Mhuire, Maigh Cuilinn, to get an update on the status of the application to construct a new 16-classroom, plus an ancillary building, school on an enlarged site in the centre of Maigh Cuilinn.Scoil Mhuire is the largest school in the parish of Moycullen. It is one of four schools. The building is not fit for purpose. It has numerous prefabs. They are modern prefabs and replacement prefabs but nonetheless they are prefabs and the school is badly in need of a new building. The board of management has done a lot of work and has secured additional land to the rear of the existing school building. This has meant a new school can be built without the need to decant the pupils or interrupt their teaching. This will be of benefit and will reduce the costs of the project. The school has also received permission from landowners to allow for access for construction works. This improves the safety aspect.

Tá mé ag iarraidh an scéal is déanaí maidir le mo sheanscoil, Scoil Mhuire, Maigh Cuilinn. Tá scoil nua ag teastáil. Tá pleananna ann agus tá cead pleanála faighte ag an mbord bainistíochta chun scoil nua le 16 seomra ranga a thógáil. Teastaíonn an scoil agus an fhoireann nua go géar. What is the status of the project? The purchase of a parcel of land by the board at its own expense, together with agreements put in place, means the new school can be built in a single phase rather than multiple phases as originally planned. This will reduce the cost to the Department of Education. The board of management has put in tremendous work over the years but it has been left in an information vacuum. It does not know what is happening. It has not received acknowledgements to the most recent communications to the Department. It wants to know when it will be allowed to progress towards tenders and the conclusion of this badly needed project.

In April the Minister, Deputy Foley, included Scoil Mhuire on the list of 90 schools in an €800 million package and this is certainly welcome. We are now at a stage where nothing has happened since the period of February, March and April. A total of €800 million was sanctioned in the large-scale capital programme and additional accommodation scheme for essential classroom accommodation. Where is this project at? It is very badly needed. We know funding was sanctioned previously and we need to know there is approval at stage 2b so that it can proceed to stage 3.