I propose to share my time with Deputy Seán Power. First I want to thank him for affording me the opportunity of raising this matter on the Adjournment of the House and to point out that this is an issue which has been before successive Ministers for Education since 1989 when approval was given by the then Minister for an extension to Hewetson School in County Kildare.
The situation has become progressively worse and the school authorities have been anxiously attempting, in the past two years, to achieve a successful and satisfactory conclusion. I am glad the Minister is here tonight to reply to the debate and I hope she will give a positive response.
The community in question is small. It is not a strident or aggressive community and depends entirely on the goodwill of the Minister to respond in terms of the provision for the Estimates in the current year. It is imperative that the Minister recognise the need to make provision for that extension in the current year, thereby providing for future generations in the school. If that is not done the confidence of the people in public representatives' ability to deliver will be badly shaken. I hope the Minister will be able to give us some good news.