This topic is finished now. Deputy Higgins is next.

I am standing here yet again to ask for updates on 12 schools in my area. I raised this as a Topical Issue recently and the Ceann Comhairle suggested the Department host a briefing meeting with me. I am thankful for the note the Department provided, but, as usual, there is no new information, no action plan for progress, no timelines and no meeting has been set up. Meanwhile, the parents at Lucan Community College have resorted to an online petition to put pressure on the Minister to issue the letter of intent in order that their plans for an extension and refurbishment can continue. Since then the Tánaiste has visited my old secondary school, the Holy Family Community School in Rathcoole, which is still waiting for approval for its approved contractor to just begin construction. We are still in the dark. We do not know what is holding up progress for these two schools and the ten others. Can we at least get the information on what the problem is so we can maybe overcome it?

Go raibh maith agat.

The budget is there. The plans are there. All these schools are waiting for is the go-ahead from the Department.

Thank you.

Lucan Community College-----

We are way over.

-----Holy Family Community School------

The Tánaiste to respond.

-----Griffeen Community College, Coláiste Pobail Fóla, Gaelscoil Chluain Dolcáin, the Gaelscoil campus in Clondalkin-----

Deputy, there are two minutes.

-----Divine Mercy senior and junior schools, St. Thomas's SNS, Scoil Áine-----

Deputy, the time is up.

Leas-Cheann Comhairle, this is the problem-----

Do you know what we will do?

-----the list goes on and on and I cannot get-----

We will let you have the time and-----

------I cannot get updates for these schools that so badly need this.

We will let you have the time but you have just used up your time. If he can do so, I ask the Tánaiste to reply in 30 seconds.

Very quickly. Additional capital will be required. The Minister is in discussion with the Minister for public expenditure on a constructive basis to secure additional capital to greenlight quite a number of projects. This similarly happened last year and quite a range of projects was approved on that basis. That is where it is at the moment.

Go raibh maith agat. Anois, an Teachta Ó Cathasaigh. Nóimead amháin.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle. On 14 February I wrote to the Tánaiste and other Ministers and Ministers of State. The letter was cosigned by a number of my Green Party colleagues. In the letter we called on Ministers to take the opportunity afforded by St. Patrick's Day to reiterate the position of the Irish Government, supported by the Irish people, on Gaza. We have three asks, namely, that there should be an immediate humanitarian ceasefire with a pathway to a lasting peace, that all participants in the conflict should be held to account for their actions under humanitarian law and that there should be an immediate release of all hostages held in Gaza.

Ireland has always been a powerful voice for peace on the international stage. This is an opportunity very few countries of our size have to carry that message to the centres of power. I have received letters of acknowledgement, but I have not received a substantive response from the Tánaiste's office or from any of the others. I take this opportunity to encourage the Government to use St. Patrick's Day to bring this message to the corridors of power all across the world.

To be fair, the Government's position is unequivocal. I have communicated to the US Government our position on the need for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. I have no doubt the Taoiseach will do likewise. Obviously, we will see what the position is on St. Patrick's Day. There must be an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and all parties must be held to account. The Government has already said this publicly. We have participated-----

Will all Ministers bring that message with them?

Yes, there will be a message for all Ministers in every jurisdiction.

They will have a clear message from the Government on what to articulate and the Government's position and Ireland's position in regard to holding Israel to account on what is happening in Gaza and the West Bank, holding Hamas to account in respect of what happened on 7 October, and of course the immediate release of hostages, which we have called for consistently since 7 October. Generally speaking, people should not be held hostage or shot. It is an appalling crime in itself.

I join Deputy Higgins in calling for a new extension and the refurbishment of the existing building in Lucan Community College. I have to point out to the Deputy that you are in a party of Government that has been in government for the past 13 years, that has seen the list that goes on and on and the failures-----

I have been a Member of this House for four years.

-----in our communities, where we have seen ten or 12 schools that have been left behind. I would like to know when Lucan Community College is going to get this extension. When will the contractor be confirmed for approval? This long delay may need the tender process to go on longer. The people in the Dublin Mid-West constituency have been let down by the Tánaiste's Government and by Deputy Emer Higgins's Government-----

A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, why is he allowed talk to me like this? Is this not through the Chair?

-----over successive terms. We are waiting 13 years for this to happen. We need to see the educational needs of Dublin Mid-West met.

So much for working together.

Please stop this. I will let the clock run and none of the Deputy's colleagues will get in because I am going to stop on time. If we could not personalise it, that would be helpful. We will stick with the issue.

That is the issue.

Please. It is Questions on Policy or Legislation. The clock is running. I will not stay longer today.

I appreciate the Deputies raising these issue. I have to point out that since this Government came to power, there has been record allocation of capital funding to education in respect of new school projects and indeed in areas of special education, particularly new capital projects in special education. The population is growing. Inflation was quite dramatic in the past two years. There will be significant increases in 2024. The objective is to get these projects sanctioned and green-lighted. I believe that will happen before long.