Is mian liom labhairt faoi Ghaelscoil Uí Earcáin i bhFionnghlas. Rinne mé staidéar sa teach scoile seo 40 bliain ó shin. Bhí mo sheanathair ar choiste tógála na scoile 70 bliain ó shin, agus tá an teach scoile ag éirí an-sean anois. Tá teach scoile nua ag teastáil ón scoil agus tá gá leis go han-luath. Gaelscoil Uí Earcáin is a school I studied in 40 years ago. My grandfather was on the building committee nearly 70 years ago, yet the building still remains in desperate need of improvement. Over recent years, thanks to the tireless work of the principal - I give her great credit; she lets none of us off the hook - we have invested in the school in the form of new windows and other improvements. As she says, however, we are throwing good money after bad because we know that there is a plan for an exciting new school building, and the principal, the students and the school community want to get on with that being built. It is at stage 2a. There are documents, I understand, with the Department that have to be reviewed. There was certainly some back-and-forth over different elements of the design, but we find that it has come to a halt. The school was particularly disappointed when it was not included in the recent list, particularly when an adjoining school, St. Canice's Girls' National School, actually had a letter of intent issued today. We are very grateful for that but it is all the more reason the Gaelscoil beside it should also get the go-ahead. There is demand for school places in our area. Gaelscoil Uí Earcáin needs a new building.

Sentiment score: 0.09

I have to agree. The fact that both Deputy Ellis and I are putting this Topical Issue down together should show the Minister for education how important public representatives in our area consider this issue. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as a fhreagra. Tá na páistí, na múinteoirí agus an príomhoide ag obair go dian. Is pobal scoile iontach iad. Tá teach scoile maith tuillte acu. Impím ar an Aire Stáit gach gur féidir leis a dhéanamh chun an scoil nua a thógáil go luath. We have to press ahead with this. The Minister of State has spoken about €7.5 billion and 108 schools. Previous Ministers were often accused of talking about millions and billions. All of that means nothing to people if they do not have a new school building in their own area. I again ask the Minister of State to communicate to the Minister the joint determination of the public representatives in this constituency to support Gaelscoil Uí Earcáin. I ask him to do everything in his power to deliver it within the capital budget.

Sentiment score: 0.07