Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me raise the important matter of the provision of a new school in Ballintemple in Blackrock in Cork. I am heartened by the Minister of State's response to Senator Ellis, because for the first time a Minister of State has come into the House and deviated from a prepared script on an Adjournment matter and given an honest appraisal of where matters stand. I commend him on that and hope he does the same in response to my matter.
Five years ago, two new portacabins were located on a site adjacent to the school in the grounds of the SMA Fathers. Has the situation improved since then? There has been massive growth in the area and Ballintemple national school has outlived its present campus. The site has become too small, the school is on a split campus and we now need a bigger site and school. It is important that we provide for both the present and the future. We have an opportunity now to plan for a meaningful education programme for our young people, existing students, parents and teachers of this school.
The Ballintemple and Blackrock areas are ones of rapid urban growth where there is competition for school places. I met a woman recently in the area who walks with her three children to Turner's Cross national school every morning, a fair trek. I understand the Ballintemple school board of management has spoken with senior planners in the Department, but there has been no tangible news. I do not want to receive a response that only marks time, because a marking-time response will bring no progress on this development.
We need a commencement date for this necessary new school. We need a school that will cater for three times the current intake because of existing demands. The school is currently an eight-teacher school but the new school planned will have capacity for 12. The SMA fathers have offered a free site of 1.5 acres to the Department and finance will be available from the sale of the current school. There is no issue with regard to the land which is self-financed. The SMA fathers and the board of management are ready to move. I ask for some progress on the provision of this important facility in this fast-growing area of Cork city.