Dessie Ellis
Dublin North-West · Sinn Féin · Ireland
“Notwithstanding the obvious requirement for the Garda to have the resources to adequately provide security during Ireland's tenure holding the Presidency of the EU, the loss of ten gardaí from Ballymun deals a substantial blow to an area that has seen a rise in violent criminal activities in recent times, particularly in relation to a wid…”
“This can be a result of staff shortages as the HSE has recruitment and staff retention problems. This has impacted school dental screening programmes and caused significant delays in routine dental assessments for children.”
“Early childhood dental examinations are important because they identify problems before they become serious. Early assessments of a child's teeth, jaws and bite can detect developmental issues that can reduce the need for more extensive treatment at a later age.”
“This is a result of the many children reaching secondary school before receiving dental assessments. There are also fewer dentists participating in State-funded schemes.”
“It systematically and deliberately attacked not just civilians, but civilian infrastructure as well as using starvation and thirst as a weapon against the Palestinian population. The barren landscape of rubble across Gaza demonstrates that for Israel Palestinian homes, schools and hospitals were legitimate military targets.”
“Detainees are denied adequate food, water and proper medical care. Settler violence has escalated and the illegal land grabs are continuing with the connivance of the Israeli military. If Palestinians intervene to protect their homes and farms, they are the ones attacked and killed by the settlers and the Israeli military.”
The complete record
Every one of 171 lines we hold for Dessie Ellis, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 3 of 4.
“I urge the Government to ban what I can only describe as a barbaric and invasive procedure used on greyhounds whereby they are subjected to surgical artificial insemination. This highly controversial procedure, which is already banned in the UK, involves making a cut in the abdomen of a greyhound and inserting semen directly into its uterus. This is not an isolated, occasional surgical procedure. Figures from 2023 show that in the previous ten years, almost 5,000 greyhound litters were born in Ireland following surgical artificial insemination. In the past four years alone, more than 500 surgical artificial inseminations were performed on racing and coursing greyhounds. The process must be distressing for the female greyhound as it is involves anaesthetising it and making a small incision in the abdomen in order to lift out the uterus.”
“A large number of landlords with private rental accommodation are willing to engage with local authorities on the purchase of these properties with a view to allowing the existing tenants to remain in situ . Moneys that were allocated for the purchase of such properties within the Dublin region this year have been spent on last year's backlog with no new properties being acquired by the local authorities, putting tenants at risk of homelessness. Are there plans to provide additional funding to purchase properties under this scheme, allowing tenants to remain in situ ?”
“These sites belong to them, the people and men and women who fought and died for Irish freedom. To preserve these historic sites and honour the memory of those who fought in 1916, Sinn Féin has alternative proposals for the area surrounding the GPO, encompassing O'Connell Street and Moore Street. Such an area would include a living museum that would recreate the historical events of the area and provide visitors with a practical interpretation of the Rising. Such a development would revitalise the area, increase tourism and bring much-needed employment opportunities. The Government needs to designate the area as a national monument to preserve the historical quarter. Otherwise, it is an exercise in destruction.”
“We still see evidence of the fight in the scars of battles on many of the buildings in the area. These buildings are culturally significant as symbols of the courage and sacrifice of the Irish people when facing the might of an empire. The events that took place in the GPO and Moore Street were pivotal moments which ultimately led to the War of Independence and the fight for freedom. I am probably the only person in the Dáil who had two grandfathers who fought in the 1916 Rising. One of my grandfathers, Peter Doyle, fought in the GPO and on Moore Street with Pearse and Connolly. My other grandfather, Samuel Ellis, fought in Jacob's factory. For me, my family, republicans and others throughout the country, we see the Government proposals as a deep insult and desecration of their memory and sacrifice.”
“Who could fathom that serious consideration is being given to a proposal that sites as historically significant as the GPO and Moore Street will be turned into what is basically a big shopping mall with office spaces? We have one opportunity to get this right, otherwise we will lose for ourselves and the generations yet to come what the National Museum described as the most important historic site in modern Irish history. Governments have made many mistakes with regard to the preservation of our national heritage, but instead of learning from these mistakes the Government seems intent on replicating them. This quarter that encompasses the GPO and the Moore Street battle site is rich in the history of the Rising. Some of the most important events of the Rising occurred in these buildings and on the streets surrounding them.”
“Over the years, we have lost too much of our national heritage through disastrous developments such as the council offices on Wood Quay, built over a Viking village, or the destruction of the Georgian facades around St. Stephen's Green and Merrion Square because of dubious planning decisions. It was heartbreaking to see the conscious and deliberate destruction of the home of The O'Rahilly. We are not against progress, but we are against progress at all costs with no thought to its impact on what should be regarded as our national treasures. Rather than seeking to preserve these national monuments, the Government seems intent on flogging them off to the highest bidder.”
“It seems there was no application whatsoever made on behalf of the Kilmore community centre, which is so disappointing. No attempt was made to get funding. However, there is funding in Dublin City Council, as well as from the Oscar Traynor development which has a €7 million fund which could be used to the tune of €150,000 in this case. It seems as though Kilmore has not been given a second thought. It my opinion that there has been resistance from the management in Dublin City Council about this. It is unacceptable for any community centre to be closed down for a year and a half. This is a community centre that was hard fought for and is badly needed in a community that is crying out for services. It is an absolute shame.”
“This is a vital community facility which we urgently need. There seems to be an unwillingness to move ahead with this project and that is part of the problem.”
“It is a huge embarrassment and a terrible indictment that visiting football teams, especially young girls, have to change out in the open and cannot even go to the toilet or have a shower. At a time when young children are going on holidays, summer projects and activities should be taking place in this community building. Senior citizens and community groups are crying out for facilities. People and those with disabilities have nowhere to go while attending football matches across the road from the centre - so much for disability-proofing our communities. I have engaged with Dublin City Council personnel on a good number of occasions. I have repeatedly been told that we are moving ahead but there is still no movement. It is frustrating that excuse after excuse has been put in the way.”
“St. Luke's community centre was built decades ago. At the time, the community of Kilmore and surrounding areas fought tooth and nail to get this badly needed facility. For the best part of a year and a half, it has been closed by Dublin City Council. With little or no consultation with the community, the building was blocked up and closed and access refused. The building itself is in good condition except for a number of works to be carried out, which would cost in the region of €150,000. There is no shortage of people looking to use this building. There is a huge increase in the population locally, with hundreds of new apartments and houses built and being built. Kilmore Celtic, a local football club across the road, has young girls and boys with no place to change, go to the toilet or even have a shower.”
“All the major political parties in the South have supported the recommendation from the 2013 constitutional convention to extend votes to citizens living outside the State. There is a fear that a Sinn Féin-nominated candidate might get elected if voting rights were extended to those in the North of Ireland. If that is the position of some people in government, it is outrageous. What chance have we for a united Ireland if that attitude prevails? The President of Ireland should be elected by all Irish citizens on the island of Ireland, no matter where they reside, North or South.”
“The Constitution says that the President shall be elected by direct vote of the people, although being a citizen does not necessarily guarantee a vote as the Constitution also restricts that right to those who can vote at an election for Members of Dáil Éireann. This effectively disenfranchises a whole cohort of citizens who, by accident of history and geography, reside in the North of Ireland. Yet, any one of these citizens, if they are over 35 years of age, can in theory become the President if so elected, as the Belfast native Mary McAleese was in 1997. There are a number of practical issues that need to be sorted out, as well as a change to the Constitution. However, these are not complex issues, as some might suggest.”
“The President of Ireland is largely a ceremonial position which acts as the representative of the Irish State both at home and abroad. The President holds some limited legislative powers and is one part of the checks and balances on the Legislature. Our current President has not been afraid to expand the role of the President and has been outspoken on a number of issues, most recently the genocide taking place in Gaza. This is entirely fitting for a person who has, throughout his life, been a strong advocate for those suffering human rights abuses, particularly in South America and Central America.”
“The average price of housing in Dublin is over €450,000, while the average nationally is €360,000 and rising. People are leaving this country mainly because of the cost of housing, whether for purchase or rental. The local authorities should be the main drivers of delivering social and affordable housing and should be financed accordingly. It is time the Government listened to the people and not bury its head in the sand with its failed policies.”
“Never have I seen such desperation and despair, with people and families regularly being made homeless, uprooted and spread across Dublin and elsewhere. Did the Government never ask itself why this was happening? Did it never ask why the housing and homeless figures were continually rising, why people were not able to find a rental property, now costing over €2,000 and €3,000 a month in Dublin, why people were struggling to buy their own homes and why landlords were looking to get their properties back? The reality is this Government has failed to deliver enough social and affordable housing, even missing the low targets set out in its own programme for Government. Its overreliance on the private sector and support for vulture funds has added to the cost of housing.”
“I thank all those who took part in the cross-party Raise the Roof motion on the housing crisis. I also thank all those who took part in the Raise the Roof protest at the Dáil tonight. There will also be a Raise the Roof rally in Cork city on 21 June at 2 p.m. and CATU will have a national housing demonstration on 5 July in Dublin. We urge people to come out and support them. Having listened to the speeches during the debate tonight, especially from the Government and those who sit on the Government benches, we get the impression things are okay and there is no emergency crisis in housing. The Government is living in a parallel universe quite different from the reality I have experienced in my office and in the community.”
“Social care teams must have a legal right to entry to investigate complaints. Our senior citizens need to be protected. Families need to know that their elderly relatives are receiving the care and respect they deserve in their later years.”
“It also highlighted the need to address issues relating to record management systems, such as contracts for services, food and nutrition, resident protection, information for residents, infection control and the use of restrictive practices. Our vulnerable elderly citizens need to be protected. Over the years we have had too many nursing home scandals. It is also scandalous that we are still waiting for the enactment of the Adult Safeguarding Bill 2024, which will establish the national adult safeguarding authority. This Bill and the new authority will help to safeguard adults who are at risk of harm and abuse, provide mechanisms for reporting incidents and protect the rights of adults in vulnerable situations. We cannot rely on HIQA. There needs to be a mandatory reporting of abuse.”
“The many reasons for this high turnover of staff include low pay in the sector, poor training opportunities, lack of personal development or career progression and very challenging work-life balance in the sector. These factors impact on staff morale and have the knock-on effect of impacting on the care for the elderly resident. The factors that contributed to the scandalous care of one particular resident in Beneavin Manor, whose story featured in the RTÉ investigation, are laid out in the HIQA report into the nursing home. This report raised concerns around the provision of care in the home and its risk management.”
“The RTÉ report has raised important questions about the adequacy of care received in this particular nursing home. It is clear from the investigation that Beneavin Manor has failed in the provision of a quality care service to residents. The investigation has raised serious questions about whether residents’ needs are being properly met. A big problem with private nursing homes is the high turnover of staff which can also impact the staff-to-resident ratio. Staff can be overworked. If the nursing home is understaffed, it will struggle to provide personalised care, which can result in inadequate care for the resident. A 2021 study found there was an average turnover rate of 27% among nursing home staff. However, private and voluntary nursing homes experienced even higher turnover rates of 38% for nurses and 54% for healthcare assistants.”
“It will have trained nurses providing specialised care, including wound care, administering medications and managing chronic conditions. It should also provide rehabilitation programmes to help residents to improve mobility. A priority of nursing homes is to provide a safe and secure environment for the elderly resident. As Ireland has a growing elderly population, nursing homes form a crucial part of the healthcare system by providing long-term care for those who need it. When any part of this falls down, the impact will be traumatic for the residents and their families. Unfortunately, as we saw from the recent “RTÉ Investigates” programme, in nursing homes and in particular in Beneavin Manor in my constituency of Dublin North-West, the quality of care is not the same in every nursing home.”
“A good nursing home will have a positive impact on the well-being and mental health of the elderly person as well as the family members who were unable to provide care in the home for their elderly relative. They can be assured that their parent will receive 24-7 care with daily living, assistance with personal care, eating and mobility, as well as medical care and supervision. A good nursing home offers peace of mind to families that their elderly relative is being cared for in a safe and supportive environment that allows them to live as independently as possible while receiving expert nursing care, rehabilitation and a range of social activities to promote engagement and social interaction including outings, entertainments and hobbies.”
“We all want the best for our elderly relatives when it comes to their care in the latter part of their lives. They have paid their taxes and contributed to the growth and prosperity of the country. The least they deserve is to have a life without worry or stress in their twilight years. Some parents are cared for by family members in their own homes or in the homes of their adult children, but when this is not possible such care is provided in nursing homes. While many elderly people can thrive in a nursing home and live a second life, the move to such a facility can be traumatic for others. The care home will understand this. A good care home will ensure that the transition from a family home to a nursing home is done with sensitivity and the greatest of care.”
“In a housing crisis, vacant council properties need to be turned around as fast as possible. With almost 60,000 people on the housing list throughout the country, not including 85,000 on HAP, RAS and rent supplement, every vacant property needs to be made available as a matter of urgency.”
“I know there is a demand for such accommodation because I regularly get requests for help from people who wish to move into it through my constituency office in Finglas. Some of these units have been idle for two years or more. The reason there are a number of such vacant units is that refurbishment work on senior citizen accommodation was the responsibility of direct labour within the council, not private contractors, but this has changed in recent times. The council has cut back on the use of direct labour and is now relying more and more on private contractors. This has increased costs for the council, which means that not as many units can be refitted and refurbished as before. This has created a logjam in delivering such units, which would be delivered much quicker if direct labour were used instead of private contractors.”
“We are in a housing crisis. Over 2,700 vacant council properties are boarded up and lying vacant across the State. Of those, more than 800 have been vacant for over a year. It is estimated that Dublin alone accounts for 27% of such vacant properties. Dublin has a growing senior population and along with it an increase in the demand for senior citizen accommodation. There are a number of senior citizen complexes in my constituency of Dublin North-West. I often take the time to visit these complexes to meet with residents and talk about their concerns. What strikes me most when I visit is the number of units that are lying idle. Many of these units are not necessarily boarded up, but they are lying idle and empty.”
“However, the Government has consistently missed its targets for delivery of social and affordable homes. The tenant in situ scheme has been effectively nullified by its actions and restrictions, having prevented over 2,000 families being made homeless in the past couple of years. The Government should give local authorities the lead in building social and affordable housing. They can replicate the work of housing bodies such as Ó Cualann, which have been building and delivering affordable housing for years. This Government has proven time and again that its policies cannot solve the housing problem. The number of people I see every day in my constituency office who are about to be made homeless is beyond alarming. There will be no respite from this until radical action is taken.”
“It is clear the country faces a significant housing shortage. Even young professional couples with good incomes are finding it impossible to get on the property ladder. Adding to their difficulties are the investment funds, which have sufficient resources and at times were given tax exemptions and access to grant funding to allow them to buy up large numbers of apartments, houses and new estates. Not only are these vulture funds depleting the housing stock, they are also driving up property prices and rents. The serious lack of social and affordable housing stock is a scandal in a country ranked in the top three or four richest in the world. The Government is consistent in one thing: failing to reach its own targets. The national planning framework says around 50,000 new homes will be needed each year up to 2040.”
“This man-made housing crisis continues to spiral out of control. We have once again, to the shame of this and previous Governments Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have been members of, reached record homeless figures. Over 15,500 people are now officially considered homeless, of whom over 4,600 are children. Bad as they are, these numbers do not take account of those affected by what is described as hidden homelessness. They are those who have to sleep in their car or coach surf because of their insecure housing situation. An estimate of those affected by hidden homelessness suggests that in 2024 over 30,000 people were in this precarious situation. A great number of these hidden homeless became homeless because they received a notice of termination from a landlord who was selling up the property or wanted it back for his or her own use.”
“We are now at a point where we have a 14-year-old schoolgirl, inspired by her own family experiences, protesting outside the Dáil for urgent action on the growing waiting lists for disability assessments for children. The assessment of need process in Ireland is crucial for identifying and addressing the needs of children and young people with disabilities.”
“This is contrary to the terms of the Disability Act 2005, which states that children are legally entitled to an assessment of need within six months of applying. In reality, only a tiny percentage of those who have applied for an assessment have received one. This demand for assessments in CHO 9 is growing. According to the Department of Health's figures, in CHO 9, the demand for assessments of need increased by approximately 14% from 2022 to 2024. These delays mean that children are being left behind at a crucial time in their development, which negatively impacts both the children and their families, particularly those who need urgent access to specialised services.”
“In my constituency of Dublin North-West, there are a great number of children and young people with autism and other special needs and disabilities who have been waiting for assessment and support services for a long time. I have had many parents come into my constituency office who are frustrated at the long waiting times for their children and who cannot progress or get the service they require without first having this assessment carried out. It is important that children are assessed at an early age so that they can get the supports they need, which are crucial for them as they grow into young adults. In CHO 9 alone, which covers my constituency of Dublin North-West, more than 2,400 children have been waiting for over a year for an initial contact from the children's disability network.”
“It is highly technical equipment that gives people a chance, a bit of life and something to look forward to. The second phase would be to provide accommodation so that families can travel. People with this disability have severe needs and it is very difficult to get them accommodation, and, therefore, the second phase is to house them plus the person in question. It is a really fantastic project that should be advanced. There is an urgency around doing this. It has a waiting list and it is being underfunded. That needs to be looked at. I urge the Minister to push this and I urge the HSE to deliver on this and make the case to the Government for the capital funding required.”
“It is clear that the site is identified and that money, €1.3 million, is supposed to be allocated. However, there is real urgency here. People with severe acquired brain injuries are often left behind and end up in nursing homes with little or no supports or even therapy resulting in unimaginable misery, loneliness and despair. An Saol offers them and their families hope and a way forward. I visited An Saol and saw for myself the work it is doing. This is really new and fantastic work, which is not being done in this country. It is the only one of its kind here and there are only a few in Europe. This would be a massive asset to the people of Ireland. It would be in two phases. The first would be building the unit with all the proper equipment.”
“The Minister of State with responsibility for disability has several times over the past two years committed to provide funding for a design and build contract for Teach An Saol. However, this funding has still not been made available to the foundation. An Saol started to work with the HSE on the capital grant application process approximately two years ago but no formal progress has been made in the process. The project has still not formally passed the initiation stages and a national meeting where the application was to be reviewed in April 2024 was cancelled, with no new date yet set.”
“Despite the wide support this project has received, though, there is no certainty that capital funding will be allocated in 2025 to build Teach An Saol. To date, design and planning efforts worth approximately €500,000 have been contributed pro bono by firms to prepare the application for planning permission and submit it to Dublin City Council, DCC. DCC has made land available in Ballymun for the national centre and An Saol has been working closely with the HSE, which is supportive of the project. Since the report was published by the HSE, An Saol has had a cut in real terms to its funding. No adjustments have been made to ensure that funding is brought in line with inflation, resulting in An Saol having to scale down services, which has affected staff.”
“An Saol has developed a number of pilot projects to demonstrate the effectiveness of specific rehabilitation approaches. An example of this is the Teach An Saol project. This is An Saol Foundation's national centre for life and living with severe acquired brain injuries. The centre offers therapy, respite and transitional living hubs, the goal being to help people with SABIs to live fulfilling lives. This will be a state-of-the-art facility and one of the few such centres in Europe. It will be the only one in Ireland. The goal is to have an interconnected centre for highly specialised services specifically aimed at those with SABIs. It is proposed to have a social hub, a therapy hub, a respite hub and a transitional shared living hub. A site has been identified in Ballymun for the project.”
“It is a strong voice for those who have difficulty advocating for themselves. The foundation promotes access to the proper therapies, specialised care and rehabilitation for affected individuals. An Saol Foundation also assists the families of those affected by SABIs by offering them advice and support and providing various resources to help families to deal with the challenges of having a loved one affected by SABIs. An Saol Foundation is to the forefront in providing therapies to help people to improve and heal. It is also involved in developing innovative rehabilitation programmes. A recent report from the HSE clearly outlined the necessity for the services provided by An Saol. It also determined that these services needed to grow and should be provided with the funding to do so.”
“An Saol Foundation is a charity that supports individuals who are unlikely to recover fully from their traumatic injuries and will therefore require life-long support. It also supports families affected by severe acquired brain injuries, SABIs. It is a strong advocate for those affected by severe brain injuries, ensuring respect and dignity for those suffering from this condition. It works with some of the most vulnerable people in society who are unfortunately often left behind by the health service. It also works to change the misconceptions around acquired brain injury and towards greater independence for those affected by this condition. An Saol works to educate the public and public representatives about the needs of people with SABIs and the importance of early and intensive rehabilitation.”
“It is exactly a year since I raised the issue of the persistent delays in the redevelopment of Scoil Chiaráin in Glasnevin, which is a school for students with mild to moderate educational needs. A report commissioned by the school deemed the school building not fit for purpose. With everything effectively in place, the parents and the school authorities are at a loss to know when construction will begin on site. Can the Taoiseach address these concerns by giving a date when construction can begin?”
“The report further identified other failures, especially in communication, where it was found staff in the operating theatre were unaware a new spring was being used alongside conventional surgical implements and families were not fully informed about the experimental nature of the intended surgery. All of this put children at risk of harm. The HIQA report put forward 19 recommendations for both corporate and clinical governance as well as proper oversight of implantable medical devices. Fundamentally, the HIQA report reveals systematic failures within CHI's governance structures that would have insured the safe and appropriate use of implantable medical devices. This is what led to the inappropriate use of non-CE-marked springs, as well as a lack of transparency with both patients and parents.”
“The report revealed shocking levels of failure in the form of poor patient outcomes in spinal and orthopaedic services. It also highlighted a number of safety concerns whereby CHI failed to adequately safeguard children during spinal surgeries where non-CE-marked springs were used. It is hard to believe the report also discovered key approval processes and safety checks were not properly applied. This resulted in the use of non CE-marked springs. Such springs should have undergone rigorous testing and assessment but this did not happen. Despite this they were still used in scoliosis surgeries. Many of these issues are a consequence of inadequate oversight at CHI. This lack of clear accountability resulted in a failure to apply key approval processes, policies and safety checks for the use of these implants.”
“Proper healthcare for children is crucial as it lays the foundation for their future well-being, development and success. It enables them to grow into healthy and productive adults. Good healthcare supports their physical, mental and emotional development. Proper investment in children’s health also benefits society by reducing future healthcare costs and promoting healthy lifestyles from a young age. Unfortunately, children’s healthcare in Ireland has faced major challenges and those who suffer as a consequence of these challenges are the children themselves. A stark reminder of how bad children’s healthcare in Ireland is can be seen in a recent HIQA report on governance and oversight of surgical implants at Children’s Health Ireland hospitals.”
“Any attempt to reintroduce such charges, either overtly or through the back door, will be resisted by Sinn Féin and the people of Ireland. If the Government wants to allay the fears of the people, it should back this Bill, which would repeal the section of the Water Services Act that allows Uisce Éireann to charge domestic water service users for water.”
“There has been a large overspend of money on establishing the entity known as Irish Water. It cost approximately €180 million, of which €18 million was spent on consultants alone. Additionally, the nationwide water meter installation programme to install more than 1 million water meters, which began in 2013, cost a total of €539 million, which was €100 million in excess of the estimated costs. It also cost Irish Water €100,000 to rebrand itself as Uisce Éireann in 2022. These ridiculous spends would have been better used to upgrade the water infrastructure by the local authorities which previously had responsibility for water services. The Taoiseach said recently that there would be no return to water charges. We remain to be convinced of his sincerity on this matter.”
“Eight years after the legislation to introduce water charges was passed, efforts have been made in recent days to reintroduce the charges, which were described as a high-level priority by the Department of housing. Uisce Éireann’s water charges plan 2024 describes in full how excess water charges for domestic users will work. In order to implement these water charges, Uisce Éireann would have to wait until a legal framework is put in place to give the charges effect. In attempting to introduce water charges, the Government faced enormous opposition from the general public. The attempt to introduce this austerity measure caused great anger and resentment among the population, leading to mass protests and a refusal by many to pay charges and bills issued by Irish Water.”
“Tá a lán páistí ag feitheamh ar áit sa scoil seo agus tá liosta feithimh fada ann. It is really frustrating that we have such a long list of people waiting to get into the school. We need the 16 classrooms that are going to be built there. At present we have nine and it is not enough. We need to get this moving. If anyone values the Irish language, this is an opportunity to put in place the facilities that are required in this area. The demand is there. Tá an-éileamh sa cheantar seo ar Ghaelscoil Cholmcille.”
“I thank the Minister of State. I am delighted that the land swap has been agreed, there but I am worried about the Minister of State's comment to the effect that there are a lot of surveys to be done. The Oscar Traynor Woods complex is right beside the school. Some 895 apartments and houses are being built there. In nearby Whitehall, Santry and Coolock, vast numbers of apartments are also being built. It is an absolute necessity to get this school going. I know the Minister of State is saying it will take until the middle of next year. People have been waiting more than 19 years for this. It is getting to the point of ridiculousness that we have not got any further. I hope the Minister will listen and speed up this process. Tá an scoil seo an-cháiliúil ar fad agus tá sí ag dul chun cinn freisin.”
“In 2018, the parents put up three billboards at the entrance to the school to highlight their campaign for a permanent structure when the Minister for Education paid the school a visit. This has been an ongoing campaign, and parents and staff are very frustrated that no decision has been made regarding a site for a permanent building. Tá naoi seomra sa scoil agus thart ar 274 dalta. Tá siad ag lorg 16 seomra agus cúpla seomra speisialta san fhoirgneamh nua. This situation is unfair to the staff, the pupils and to the parents. If the Department really cares about staff and pupil well-being, it needs to make a decision on a site for the construction of a permanent school that has the basic facilities a school needs, such as a sports hall and buildings that can accommodate the growing and diverse needs of its pupils.”
“The management was originally told that the site next door would be where the new school would be built. This was discounted because, apparently, the area was designated as a no-fly zone. A swap was then discussed between Dublin City Council and Department of Education in respect of another parcel of land nearer to Oscar Traynor Road. This was discussed for years without any decision being made on the proposal. Even if a decision is made on where the building would be built, it could still take at least another five years for a brick to be laid once all the planning processes and so on are completed. In 2004, my former colleague Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin raised this matter with the then Minister for Education. In 2017, it was raised again as a Topical Issue.”