I thank the Chair for allowing me raise the issue and thank the Minister for being present to address it. The most recent report given to the vocational education committee on 12 October was that the Department is unwilling to proceed to the appointment of a design team until the schedule of accommodation is agreed at the school. The Department has submitted a schedule for 350 students which is insufficient for the numbers now attending the school. The numbers over the past five years and anticipated numbers for the coming five years are averaging about 380 students. This information was submitted to the Department some time ago but it has not been taken on board by the planning section of the Department.
One of my first tasks when I came into this House in 1981-82 involved a similar problem with the Department using numbers to delay the development of a new school which was required. This year the Department and the Minister accepted that a new school will be provided. Now there is an argument between the Department, which is talking about providing a school for 350 students, and the VEC. The VEC says that on the basis of the numbers, the extra houses which are being built and the extra students which will be around over the next five years, the number will have increased to 380.
I take exception to the Department using a delaying tactic here. I have no doubt that is what is being done because I know that the same type of tactics have been used in many other projects in which I have been involved in my constituency on the basis of the numbers game. Nothing will happen until this item is agreed. The Estimates for 1999 will be agreed and no money will be allocated for the provision of the design team so that money can be allocated from the Estimates for work.
Will the Minister tell me, the board of management and the County Meath VEC that he will immediately resolve the disagreements and the school will be provided on the basis that provision needs to be made for 380 students given the projected extra population in the locality of Oldcastle and north Meath? I do not accept that the planning section of the Department can state that it will not move until such time as there is an agreement. Ministers are there to make decisions on behalf of all the people. Here there is an organised disagreement so that progress cannot be made, in other words the design team cannot be appointed, and no money will be allocated in the Estimates for 1999 so that work can commence. I ask the Minister to get rid of this logjam and to get a decision so that work can commence.