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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation

Firhouse Educate Together accommodation

Summary

Deputy Murphy raised persistent delays in providing buildings and temporary accommodation for Firhouse Educate Together Secondary School. The Taoiseach said he would speak to the Minister for Education about getting progress on the project.

It is noteworthy how the Taoiseach is the only man in the building without an ideology. It really is quite striking. It is the best kind of ideology when you do not admit that it is an ideology.

Parents and staff at Firhouse Educate Together Secondary School have been forced to struggle again and again to ensure they have buildings for the kids and students on the school site. Last year, they fought successfully to ensure they were not forced to move to Citywest but they are back facing a crisis yet again where, because of delays, it seems the temporary accommodation may not be ready for September and they will again be faced with moving to Citywest. I am asking the Taoiseach to intervene with the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, to ensure the building work starts, the temporary accommodation is in place by September and there are contingency plans in place in case there are problems.

Comment on this

Obviously, the Minister for Education is responsible for the overall building programme. I know that Deputies across the constituency are engaged on this issue. Deputy Lahart has been in touch about it as well. I will certainly talk to the Minister to see if we can get progress on that project.

Comment on this

Page 46 of the programme for Government pledges to invest in healthcare. In Wexford, we have no MRI scanner despite having raised €250,000 towards the project. There are 791 children who have been on the orthodontic waiting list for more than 48 months. We have two applicants for a psychologist position which is to be filled to serve the 40 children on the waiting list for child and adolescent mental health services. We cannot get those applications pulled out to receive a letter of offer. I am asking the Taoiseach to intervene on that issue. We cannot continue to allow these children to suffer. The 791 children on the orthodontic waiting list will ultimately end up with mental health problems. It is not so long ago that the Taoiseach and I were teenagers and we know how important teeth are. We know how important they are to children's confidence. Equally, it is important that children are seen by psychologists at an opportune time, not when it is too late. Early intervention is key. Please, Taoiseach.

Comment on this

I thank Deputy Murphy for raising this issue. The Minister of State, Deputy James Browne, has been in touch with me as well about the CT scanner issue. We will be working with the Minister for Health and the HSE on that because I know there has been a campaign locally and a lot of fundraising as well behind that.

Regarding the wider programme, the national HSE service plan is designed and a very substantial amount of funding now allocated to try to unblock some of those waiting lists, particularly in the mental health area, and teenage and child mental health in particular.

Comment on this