Eileen Lynch (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I raise an issue in my home town of Macroom in County Cork. I seek an update on the status of a new building for the Youthreach Further Education and Training Centre in the town. I ask the House to invite the Minister for further and higher education to the Chamber to discuss this. I have raised this as a Commencement matter but I understand a high volume of matters have been submitted and this has not been selected. I will raise it again but I mention it today because of the urgency of the situation.

For more than 20 years the Youthreach building in Macroom has not been fit for purpose. It has little to no insulation, the roof is not fire-proofed, there is mould throughout the building and there are problems with rodents. These are only some of the many issues I could highlight. Youthreach provides an invaluable service to young people in Macroom and the surrounding areas. It is a great testament to the wonderful staff that they continue to provide such high standards of education in these dire conditions. As well as coming from the town, students come from as far as Kanturk in north Cork, Balingeary to the west of Macroom, Lissarda to the east of Macroom and Kenmare in County Kerry. A quarter come from IPAS centres, with 20% members of the Traveller community and another 20% with an ASD diagnosis. We are failing these young people by providing them with an inadequate building in which to learn.

The team there had been advised that a new building would be ready by September 2024. This did not come to fruition. They still wait for confirmation on whether this proposed new building has been acquired. I call on the Minister to come to the House to address this matter and guarantee that an adequate facility will be provided to match the standard and level of education being provided to the students by Youthreach.