I wish to raise the issue of the emergency works grant for Coláiste an Phiarsaigh, Glanmire. It is my former secondary school and I used to teach there many years ago. The reason I am raising this - I typically do not raise individual issues like this on the floor of the Dáil - is out of pure frustration, especially given that this is the week when we are announcing a large capital programme in education, which I welcome. I have been working with this school since November trying to get a roof repaired and we cannot get a positive outcome from the Department. I would like to read an extract from the principal's latest email to me:

The condition of these rooms is shocking. Not alone that, water is entering the light sockets and creating a very serious health and safety issue. The lights have to be switched off and both staff and students are often working in the dark.

I know the nature of the emergency works scheme and how restrictive it can be. It is for emergencies but if this is not warranted or deemed an emergency, then I do not know what is. It is very frustrating and I cannot a straight response. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked a parliamentary question in this regard last year and the reply stated that €77 million had been spent on roofs in the previous four years by the Department of education. I know, therefore, that the Department can fix roofs. In this case, I ask the Tánaiste to please intervene to help get the school roof fixed.

I thank Deputy O'Sullivan for raising this issue. I can completely understand how it must be a cause of frustration when on the one hand that school is seeing lots of new school buildings being announced, which is a good thing, while also having its own battle to try to get what sounds to me to be a serious repair issue resolved in the interests of the welfare of its students and staff. On foot of the Deputy raising it here in the Dáil today I will speak directly with the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy Naughton. I will ask her to revert to the Deputy on this and see what options there are to address it.