I am grateful for the opportunity to raise the issue of second level educational facilities in Portlaoise on the Adjournment. It is an urgent matter and I wish to voice my concern over present provisions. As the Minister is aware, Portlaoise is a growing town with an expanding population and there is a demand among parents, pupils and teachers for improved educational facilities.
A decision was taken in 1981 to proceed with building a new vocational school in Portlaoise on a ten acre site purchased for this purpose. Planning work proceeded and working drawings were prepared by Laois vocational education committee and lodged with the Department of Education. Building of the school was ready to go to tender in 1987. Similarly, a new Christian Brother's school was sanctioned in 1985 and it was also planned to upgrade and modernise the Presentation Convent. These are three excellent schools.
The then Minister for Education, Deputy O'Rourke, imposed a solution on Portlaoise amalgamating the three schools into one. This solution did not receive public acceptance. Pupils, teachers and parents disagreed with this approach. Deputy O'Rourke's failed initiative for an amalgamated school must now be rejected by the Department. There are three thriving schools in the town.
The proper way forward is the development of the three schools in Portlaoise with substantial investment in each of them to facilitate either substantial addition and refurbishment or, if necessary, the building of new schools. This latter course is necessary in the case of the vocational school. The original vocational school was the old technical school built in 1907 and extended in 1914. Part of the Christian Brother's school dates back to 1860.
Parents, pupils and teachers are confused and concerned over what is happening. Pupils in Portlaoise are entitled to the same educational facilities as every other pupil in Ireland. I appreciate that the Minister is busy, but I ask him to visit the schools in Portlaoise to see at first hand the inadequate facilities under which pupils and teachers work. There is a lack of recreational and canteen facilities and the situation regarding other facilities is unsatisfactory.
There are three great schools in Portlaoise but they need urgent attention and a sizeable injection of capital. The vocational school has in excess of 300 pupils with a further 500 attending night courses. Approximately 430 pupils are attending the Christian Brother's and in excess of 500 attend the Presentation Convent. A number of pupils are being bussed from Portlaoise to different schools.
I plead with the Minister not to be bound by past decisions which have been rejected by the people. I represent the constituency of Laois-Offaly and I have visited all towns in that constituency. The school facilities in Portlaoise are not of the same standard as those in other towns in the constituency. Parents, pupils and others have been very patient. We are facing an election and I hope the present Minister is returned to that post. Irrespective of who is in Government — and I hope the present Minister is returned to office as he will listen to what I am saying — I hope everything is done to ensure that the facilities urgently required in Portlaoise are provided. If the Minister visited the town he would accept the merit of what I am saying.
There has been no movement on this issue for ten years. In that time there have been some minor improvements but there is a lack of capital investment which must be rectified at the earliest possible date.
