20. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Taoiseach for an update on the programme for Government. [7692/26]

Sentiment score: 0.00

Management, staff, students and parents and the whole school community are extremely disappointed and dismayed at the decision last week by the Minister, Deputy Naughton, not to release long-promised funding for the Kilkenny school campus. Both Kilkenny City Vocational School and Coláiste Pobail Osraí are now at capacity. Kilkenny City Vocational School is the only DEIS post-primary school in Kilkenny city and it has an exemplary record. Both schools are non-denominational and co-educational. Coláiste Pobail Osraí is the last remaining Gaeilge post-primary school in Kilkenny city and county. The reality for both schools currently is that their classrooms are not fit for purpose, there are no outdoor recreation facilities, there are no outdoor sport facilities and no PE facilities. Any help the Taoiseach can give to reverse this decision would be hugely appreciated by the whole school community. Will he meet with the school community, with Kilkenny and Carlow ETB and the principals as a matter of urgency to discuss this specific project and to try to get it to construction stage as soon as possible? If the project is not advanced by July 2027, the planning permission will run out, and €3 million has already been spent to get to this stage. I implore the Taoiseach, if he could, to meet with me and the relevant school authorities. That would be fantastic.

Sentiment score: -0.04