I am sorry to detain the Minister on this matter but it is of great importance to the pupils, teachers and parents. As we are nearing the end of the present school term it is important that the Minister, and her Department, give approval to the building of a prefabricated classroom within the next few days to ensure adequate accommodation for these pupils when they begin the 1993-94 school year in September.
Two problems are being experienced at this school. One is in regard to a remedial teacher who was appointed by the Department. There is great concern on the part of all involved to ensure that the Department continue the appointment of a remedial teacher. The figures are available to substantiate that case although I understand there had been some indication from the Department that they might not be satisfied to continue the appointment of a third teacher at that school. The remedial teacher is doing wonderful work at the school. The parents are greatly concerned about this and want clarification in the near future in regard to the position of that teacher who, unfortunately, does not have a classroom. There are approximately 70 pupils attending the school and the two teachers there take four classes each. The remedial teacher has to operate in a staffroom which can accommodate about six pupils only at a time.
I know the type of financial pressures and demands being made on the Minister but my request to her this evening is small. There will be an application for an additional classroom to accommodate the third teacher in proper modern conditions. But, for September the parents want a prefabricated classroom erected in order to have some type of reasonable accommodation for their children attending the school. A prefabricated building is now idle, following the opening of the new secondary school at Oughterard, and is for sale by the Sisters. It is important that the Department have that building examined by the Office of Public Works. It is in very good condition. If it is approved and purchased that building could be moved from Oughterard and relocated at Tooreeney. This school is located in the Galway Gaeltacht. I do not know how these teachers manage to teach large numbers of pupils under such deplorable conditions.
The most recent figures furnished to me indicate that 70 pupils will be attending the school from September 1993, that 72 pupils will be attending in September 1994 and 69 pupils in September 1995. Urgent action is required. The Office of Public Works has been involved in approving the building but what is required is the Minister's sanction to be conveyed to the school authorities and that would need to be done within the next week or two.
