merrion street

17th November 2015

Check against delivery

Good morning.
I’d like to thank John (Kearns – principal), Eiven (Shanahan – deputy principal) and Declan (Murray – chairman of Board of Management) for hosting us here today. I’d also like to thank the pupils, who have been brilliant. You must be very proud of your accomplishments in the classroom, in sport and in other areas. Speaking of sport, I hope you all enjoyed Ireland’s tremendous victory in the qualifiers last night!

Today’s announcement is part of a €2.8 billion investment programme in schools over the next six years.  It will deliver 310 vital school projects across the country.

Children will be the primary beneficiaries – this is an investment in their future, and Ireland’s future. But there will also be a secondary benefit – the thousands of jobs and apprenticeships that this school building programme will provide over the next six years.

Just this morning, new data shows unemployment has fallen below 9% for the first time since the crisis peak. Thousands of people are returning to work every month, and this programme will further boost that progress.

So the educational and economic benefits are clear. But there are two other important aspects to this announcement. Previous governments frequently published multiple lists of schools with no commitment to actual construction. By stark contrast, with this programme, every single school that is progressing through planning has a commitment to when they will proceed to construction.

We have been very clear in relation to school buildings - what we promise, we will deliver.
This approach delivers peace of mind and certainty for patrons and schools.
Our approach has also recognised that Ireland is increasingly diverse, and that our schools must cater for that diversity.

Today, we are announcing the locations of 14 brand-new primary and second-level schools.
As we have ensured since taking office, parental choice will be a major determinant of the patronage of these new schools. These schools will cater for many of the additional children coming into the school system. Turning to Dublin West specifically, our goal is to ensure a full network of schools that are fit for a grand purpose.

That purpose is to foster the creative spirits of a new generation of young people who will complete their education in an Ireland firmly in recovery mode. If you want to see that recovery in action, you need only travel a short distance to the Institute of Technology on College Road.  You will see a remarkable sight there.

Surrounding the Institute is an industrial zone which is bustling with new construction. This is where some of the world’s leading companies are locating their European expansions. They include, for example, Alexion and Bristol Squib Meyer – two giants of the global pharma sector. IBM is also expanding in Damastown, another short distance away, while Paypal has a major centre nearby in Ballycoolin. 

By the time the students in the schools we’re talking about today complete their education, these sectors will be looking for bright talented staff. The same is true nationwide.
The recovery will create a decade of new opportunity for our young people.

Our goal must be to ensure a third-level place, training place or apprenticeship for every young person who wants one.

I’m confident we’re well on the way to achieving that goal.

ENDS