School building projects in east Galway
Deputy Roche asked how several east Galway schools would fit into the Government's infrastructure delivery plan. After clarifying he meant school building projects, the Taoiseach said capital spending had risen strongly and he would refer the cases to the Minister.
I want to focus again on education and school facilities. Right across east Galway, a number of schools are particularly challenged in terms of wanting to improve their situations. These include Dunmore National School, Trinity Primary School in Tuam, Carrabane national school, St. Ita’s National School in Loughrea, Coláiste an Eachréidh in Athenry, and Gort Community School, just to mention a few. How will schools fall into the Government’s plan to reform infrastructure delivery? I will be engaging more in this regard with the Minister, Hildegarde Naughton, but most schools are anxious to understand the timelines. While I have the floor, I want to wish the Minister well. Speeding up the delivery of infrastructure would be welcome because of the schools in this category that are anxiously waiting.
Comment on this
We will talk to the Minister. Over the last five years, there has been exponential growth in capital expenditure for school projects, with many in the special education arena, which is very important. The Department of education had agreed with the Department of public expenditure a very substantial national development framework for further extensions. I will refer the cases in question to the Minister for education and we will try to get to the bottom of the matter. Many schools across the country are progressing and there is a lot of work under way. I am aware that all the Deputies in Galway East and elsewhere are very anxious to have things progress quickly.