I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for allowing us to raise this important issue once again. My immediate family have been involved with the Cork School of Music for the past 24 years, with children starting violin at age four. In May I visited the temporary premises in Moore's Hotel for the Cork School of Music and saw students and teachers working in poor and overcrowded conditions. They were, however, full of hope that, despite numerous delays, the announcement on a new school of music would have been made by now. We were given unofficial assurances that an announcement would have been made long before now.
It was appalling, however, to see students and teachers in the cold weather yesterday protesting the lack of a decision from the Government. I read the little book of horrors that is the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and he sets out an appalling vista of mismanagement, indifference and wasting of taxpayers' money in this project.
Promises were made before the general election in 2002. The then Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Martin, on more than one occasion announced that a new Cork School of Music would proceed immediately and be ready for the time when Cork would become European City of Culture in 2005. The election came, the promises were broken and we are still waiting for the school. I call on the Government to make up for this deceit of the people of Cork and Munster by sanctioning the school.
EUROSTAT has been blamed and other excuses given. Every time we table a Dáil question, we are told a decision is imminent. What is the Minister's definition of imminent? I hope the Minister will give a specific date for approval of the school.