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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 18 Feb 1992

Vol. 415 No. 8

Adjournment Debate. - Wexford Town Vocational School.

I will abide by the admonition. I have raised this matter in the House before. It is a long, ongoing saga, and I am compelled by circumstances to raise it once again for the attention of the new Minister for Education and the Minister of State who is present. I hope that not only will I be satisfied with the response, but the people of Wexford will be satisfied with the response tonight.

The situation in the town of Wexford vocational school is nothing short of scandalous. From the documentation undoubtedly available to him, the Minister will be aware of the terrible conditions that students, teachers and the parents of those students must put up with in the school. For 14 years they have worked towards the idea of having a new school built. Today 660 students are housed in eight pre-fabricated buildings, two cloakrooms, four converted bedrooms and two converted town houses. There are no staff toilets, no gymnasium, no proper kitchen, no social area, no geography room, no career guidance room, no assembly hall, no staffroom — I could go on about all the basic essentials one would assume to be available in a school that simply do not exist there.

Last April the former Minister for Education, Deputy O'Rourke, visited the school and saw the conditions in which the teachers and pupils worked. Despite those appalling conditions we are getting marvellous results. The Minister gave a pledge to the chairman, to the Oireachtas Members and to the people of Wexford, that there would be no undue delay in relation to providing finances to complete the urgent works necessary. We took the Minister in good faith and indeed the local Deputy, the Minister's colleague, graced our local paper with the announcement "New vocational education committee school is sanctioned for Wexford". We welcome that because parents, teachers and pupils have been extraordinarily patient, tolerant and responsible in this matter. We have accepted a modification of plans and all the restrictions imposed in relation to this matter by the Department over many years.

One can imagine, therefore, the dismay that greeted the announcement by the former Minister for Education, Deputy Davern, on 11 February, when he published the public capital programme for secondary and vocational schools. It outlined projects up and down the country and indeed a very welcome one in my constituency, in Gorey, but there was nothing for Wexford. It is felt that it was a reneging on a pledge and commitment from his predecessor. What I am asking for tonight, in the name of all the people of Wexford, is for the Minister of State to clarify this matter. There should be no ambiguity, no fudging the issues. There should be a clear statement of the Government's intention in regard to the funding of this project for 1992. I cannot over-state to the Minister the negative reaction of parents who are suggesting that they will take to the streets; of teachers, who have now decided and have served notice on Wexford Vocational Education Committee of their intention to withdraw labour from substandard classrooms beginning on 18 March next, one month from this week. They have been brought to the end of their tether, and the limit of their patience in this matter. I appeal to the Minister once again to be clear about this and to give us the good news that the commitment of the Minister's predecessor will be honoured and we will have our money for this year to complete this urgent project.

I thank Deputy Howlin for his kind remarks about my appointment. He wished that it would be of benefit to the south-east region and I also hope it will be. I can understand his frustration in relation to this school in Wexford town. I know from experience, having spent the best part of 15 years on the back benches, how frustrating it can be to bring a project almost to fruition. Indeed, I have manv more such projects in my own constituency at present.

I am grateful for this opportunity to respond to the matters raised by the Deputy regarding the town of Wexford vocational school. I am indeed aware of the condition of the existing school accommodation and I am fully committed to having the urgently required facilities provided as soon as possible.

The building project proposed would represent a major improvement in the facilities available to the pupils attending the school and I appreciate that, having regard to the accommodation available at present, the County Wexford Vocational Education Committee, teachers, parents and pupils would wish to see the project commence as soon as possible. However, the planning of each project involving the provision of new, permanent accommodation is a detailed and complex procedure which must meet the Department's requirements and so in order to clarify the exact position of this project I would like, first of all, to give some brief details of the background to the project.

A proposal to provide an extension to cater for 800 pupils at Wexford vocational school was approved in 1984 and the architectural planning of the extension followed. However, due to lack of capital the project did not proceed to construction and in 1990, as with all major projects in planning, it was necessary to carry out a detailed review of the proposals in view of the declining demographic trends which had become evident throughout the country. Following this review it was agreed with the vocational education committee that the provision of 550 places would be adequate for the long term needs of the school. Consequently, revised plans for the reduced project had to be prepared, and the architectural planning of the revised project is still in progress. In November 1991 the vocational education committee were asked to prepare the bills of quantities for the revised project in accordance with stage 5 of the Department's design team procedures. My Department are currently awaiting the submission of this documentation for examination.

You will have it on Friday.

As the architectural planning has not been completed, I am not in a position to give a precise date for the commencement of the project. However, I would again say that I fully appreciate the difficulties which are currently affecting Wexford town vocational school and the anxieties expressed by both teachers and pupils. I am satisfied, however, that the most practical and feasible way of dealing with the problem is to ensure that no effort is spared in providing the additional accommodation at the earliest possible time.

Again, Deputy, I guarantee my goodwill towards this project. As the Deputy is aware, I have been in the Department for only a very short time and I have not had an opportunity to look in detail at the many projects which are on file and indeed which relate particularly to the south-east region and my own constituency as well.

Perhaps the Minister would visit Wexford?

I can assure the Deputy that I will take a personal interest in this case and I will keep in contact with the Deputy.

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