I raise the issue of planning and strategic planning, in particular, by the Department of Education and by the Government. In Dublin West, every school has been developed following huge campaigns by parents followed by hollow promises and timelines. We have schools needing either demolition, replacement or massive upgrades because they were built decades ago. We have new developments right across the constituency, in Hollystown, Ongar, Carpenterstown and Diswellstown, where new schools need to be developed. Can the Minister find out if there is a plan or if these decisions are made on the hoof? In other developments, apartment owners must provide a sinking fund. Buildings last only 30 or 40 years before major upgrades are necessary. In terms of future planning, it seems the Department of Education is only reactive, not proactive.

It seems clear from the Deputy's contribution that there is lots of investment happening in new schools in his constituency. That certainly is my experience in Donegal, where we have had unprecedented investment in new schools and school facilities. The Minister, Deputy Foley, with the backing of the Government, has made capital spending a priority to ensure young people are studying, and teachers are working, in the type of facilities they deserve and that best aids education. It is something that the Department, through the buildings unit, assesses in relation to the various requests they receive. The Government will continue to prioritise funding to ensure that it can make a real impact on the ground, as is happening in the Deputy's constituency, in my one and in others.