Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Labour)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach agus leis an Aire féin as a bheith anseo go pearsanta chun an t-ábhar seo a phlé liom. An tseachtain seo caite bhí mé istigh i nGaelscoil Cholmcille. Bhíodar ag ceiliúradh Bliain na Gaeilge agus bhí mé an-tógtha leis an méid a bhí ar siúl ann, idir cheol, drámaíocht agus amhránaíocht. Gach uair a bhím i láthair sa scoil ar Bhóthar Oscar Traynor cuireann an fhoireann ar fad ina luí orm go bhfuil sé thar am dóibh foirgneamh buan a bheith acu. Tá siad ag feitheamh anois níos mó ná 20 bliain. Cé go raibh an méid sin amhránaíochta agus drámaíochta agus ceol ar siúl ag na páistí, bhí sé soiléir do gach duine go raibh na háiseanna agus an halla atá acu i bhfad ró-bheag don scoil sin. Tá an scoil ag iarraidh fáis agus dul i méid agus tá an-chuid daoine ag iarraidh a bheith ag freastal ar an scoil ach tá an scoil ag fanacht níos mó ná 20 bliain ar fhoirgneamh nua.

Gaelscoil Cholmcille is doing fantastic work. It is a very popular local primary school. Last week I visited the school again and it was impressed upon me once more the fact it is waiting more than 20 years for a permanent building. There is a site next door which Dublin City Council has plans to develop. The long-term solution is right there facing the school. The school is adamant that a process be put in place and that it would have a chance to maximise its potential as a primary school.

I know the Minister will share with me his vision that every child will attend a school with a permanent building and can look to the future with a level of confidence. The confidence within the school has been ebbing away over the last number of years. When there are announcements of new schools being developed and recognised - nobody has an issue with this - this school seems to be on the end of the list when it comes to achieving what it wants to achieve. I am interested in hearing the Minister's reply. While he is new to his post, the Irish language is of particular importance to him and he wants to do what is best for everyone. On behalf of the parents, staff and board of management of Gaelscoil Cholmcille, I note that a positive response would be greatly appreciated.

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir as ucht an t-ábhar tábhachtach seo a ardú inniu. Is léir ón teachtaireacht inniu ón Seanadóir go bhfuil fuinneamh dearfach ag dul ar aghaidh sa scoil. Tá sé ceart go bhfuil sé tiománta agam an teanga a bheith ag bailiú nirt amach anseo fosta agus gabhaim mo aitheantas chuig an ceannaireacht thíos sna scoileanna fá choinne an tiomántas ar son na teanga. Mar atá a fhios ag an Seanadóir, tá Gaelscoil Cholmcille ag obair faoin ethos Catholic agus ag obair faoin fhoras patrúnacha agus tá suas le 277 duine óige sna mbunscoileanna ag foghlaim trí mheán na Gaeilge. Tá daoine obair sna scoileanna fosta agus tá 11 cloigeann duine ag obair agus 2.5 duine ag obair i dtacaíocht speisialta.

In 2008, my Department provided a two-storey, semi-permanent school building consisting of 12 classrooms and ancillary accommodation for Gaelscoil Cholmcille. As this building has a life span of 25 to 30 years, my Department has no plans to replace it in the foreseeable future. However, I take on board what the Senator stated in the context of parents seeking a period of certainty. I understand that in March 2018 the school submitted an application under my Department's additional school accommodation scheme seeking the provision of additional temporary accommodation to provide for a further mainstream teaching post being appointed for 2018. Having engaged with the school to seek clarification on aspects of the application, my Department finalised the assessment of the application in September. I am pleased to confirm that my Department granted approval for the provision of two permanent mainstream classrooms with en suite toilets and a separate assisted user's toilet to address the deficit of accommodation in the Gaelscoil. The project was devolved for delivery to the Gaelscoil authority. This means that it is now a matter for the Gaelscoil authority to appoint a consultant and advance the project through the design and construction phases. Gabhaim buíochas arís leis an Seanadóir as ucht an t-ábhar tábhachtach seo a ardú inniu.

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Labour)
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Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Aire. Unfortunately, I find the answer disappointing. The Minister can appreciate how disappointing it is from the school's point of view, having waited so long for a permanent building only to get an indication from the Department that it does not foresee an opportunity to replace the building because it is a two-storey semi-permanent structure with a lifespan of 25 to 30 years. I accept what the Minister says about the two permanent classrooms but I note that there is a site beside the school which is to be developed by Dublin City Council. It is a major development with potential for 500 housing units. There is a perfect opportunity here for the Department to engage with Dublin City Council regarding the site in order to find a permanent answer for the needs of this school. I implore the Minister. To say that a temporary building has a 25 to 30-year lifespan, considering that it is already ten years old, does not provide much succour to the people who care about the school. I ask that the Department engages with Dublin City Council to find a long-term solution for this much-loved and needed school in this community. I ask the Minister to engage more imaginatively to find a permanent solution. This school and its current and future pupils deserve no less.

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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Chuala mé an teachtaireacht inniu. I hear the message. I place this in the context of the pressure the Department has been under over many decades.Even going back to the late 1970s and the 1980s, many flat-roofed schools were built and they are still fit for purpose and being used today. The Department is looking at a type of retrofit project that will address environmental and sustainability issues for schools built before 2008. The accommodation in question was built prior to 2008 and I understand that parents and the community want a more permanent solution.

In the context of options involving alternative sites - and the Senator has come forward with options - one thing I have to say about the officials, who I have only got to know in recent weeks, is that they are very flexible and adapt to new suggestions and ideas. Obviously, I am trying to get a figure for the budget that has been spent in the areas of Wicklow, Kildare, Meath and Dublin in the past ten years, given there has been phenomenal growth in population and we must add that to the pressures and constraints on new buildings. I understand that when parents hear of other announcements of new schools, they obviously ask what is the situation regarding this school. We have a ten-year capital plan and the Project Ireland 2040 plan, which points to the space we will be in by 2040. I know parents and others in the community are not living in a space where they believe this is to be realised by 2040, but that we start working in that capital space in terms of how we get there over that period.

Cloisim an teachtaireacht ón Seanadóir. Ba mhaith liom mo aitheantas a ghabháil leis fá choinne seans a thabhairt dom labhairt ar Ghaelscoil Cholmcille - ainm deas agus ceangal le mo chontae féin, Tír Chonaill. Nuair a bhíonn tograí scoile ar intinn ag Seanadóirí, bíonn mo chluasa foscailte. Beidh mé ag labhairt le mo chomhghleacaithe chun níos mó sonraí a fháil i dtaobh stádas an togra atáthar ag iarraidh a bhaint amach ó bhí 2008 ann, agus i dtaobh an plean nó an bealach a bheidh de dhíth go dtí go mbeidh foirgneamh níos fearr ag an scoil sa todhchaí.