34. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his plans for recruitment of air traffic control staff at Baldonnel Aerodrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30989/25]
Sentiment score: 0.04
95. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the application from a school to replace their 50-year-old prefabs (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30986/25]
Sentiment score: 0.01
I am asking for an update on the application from St. Kevin's Community College in Clondalkin to replace their 50-year-old prefabs. These prefabs are old. They are not fit for purpose. They are not a good learning environment for pupils or a good working environment for teachers. I have health and safety concerns that I have reported to the appropriate authorities. When will these 50-year-old prefabs be replaced?
Sentiment score: -0.07
I am a former pupil of St. Kevin's Community College and have been working with the school for a long time - not just since 2024 - to get these prefabs replaced. The school and I have been receiving some contrasting information from the Department in the last months. In April, a communication referred to when the school had appointed a design team and the site presenting technical challenges, and that the Department was awaiting a decision from the school authority regarding how to proceed. The school was never asked to appoint a design team, so I do not know what that communication coming back was about. In May, the Department contacted me again and confirmed that the school's application was being considered by officials and that they had been in contact with the school authority in relation to the application. Yesterday, I got the response from the Department that the Minister has given me now in relation to the additional school accommodation scheme for St. Kevin's. The assessment has been completed. What was its outcome? The Minister said it is difficult to give a timeline, but 50 years is a long time to have prefabs in situ. I am pressing to see if we can get some sort of timeline to get these prefabs replaced.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I first attended St. Kevin's 37 years ago and these prefabs were in situ when I went to school. It is a school in an extremely disadvantaged area, but one that often punches above its weight. In fact, the Taoiseach visited the school last year to see the award-winning DEIS Connect programme. I wonder whether he knew there were kids in 50-year-old prefabs out the back. As I said, I used these prefabs when I went to school. I have aged in the last 50 years and I can only imagine how much these prefabs have aged. I visited the school a few months ago. I do not say this lightly, but I was genuinely concerned about the health and safety of the pupils and their teachers. I walked across the floor and I genuinely thought it was going to give way. I reported this to the Health and Safety Authority. An investigation is ongoing. I genuinely think it is wrong that pupils today in my area are still using the same prefabs I used 37 years ago. Those prefabs were 15 years old when I used them 37 years ago and the pupils there are still using them. The Minister said the assessment is taking place now, but the response I got yesterday stated it has been completed.
Sentiment score: 0.02
Okay.
Sentiment score: 0.23
It has been completed. I am again going to press to see when these prefabs are going to be replaced. Will it be in the next six months, next year or the year after?
Sentiment score: 0.00