Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 16 Jun 1993

Vol. 432 No. 4

Adjournment Debate. - Ramsgrange (Wexford) School.

Mr. Byrne

Ramsgrange Community School was opened in 1977 cementing the amalgamation of the secondary school of the St. Louis Order, based on the same site as the new community school and Shielbaggan vocational school located one and a half miles from Ramsgrange. The St. Louis Order have been involved in education in Ramsgrange, County Wexford, since 1872 to date. Sister Nóirín of that Order is now vice-principal and, at present acting-principal. Shielbaggan vocational school, which falls under the aegis of County Wexford Vocational Education Committee, is now known as the Shielbaggan outdoor pursuits centre. It will be seen that Ramsgrange has long been established as an area of second-level education. Ramsgrange is located in south west Wexford. The community school there services the catchment area incorporating Fethard-on-Sea, Ramsgrange, Duncannon, Ballycullane, Saint Leonard's, Gusserane, Horeswood, Clongeen and Wellington Bridge, an area in which I am privileged to live.

The area served by the school over the past five years has been operating a combat poverty programme. It may be very difficult for those people outside Wexford to believe that Wexford does have a combat poverty programme. In addition the area was selected as a Programme for Economic and Social Progress partnership area because of its high unemployment. It is vital that we have the best possible second-level educational facilities available in this deprived area.

Generally the school at Ramsgrange is in good condition but the metalwork room was built to accommodate intermediate or junior certificate level students. Because of local demand, there being no other school in that area — the nearest being New Ross 15 miles away — there is no other option available. Metalwork is taught at senior level in this same room. There has been a long tradition of skills in metalwork and engineering in south Wexford, Pierce's and the Star Foundries in Wexford being examples. The metalwork teacher in the school, Mr. Kevin Cadogan, is a rare breed, absolutely excellent. His pupils, despite the inadequate facilities, obtain great results. However, the biggest problem is that many pupils are deprived of learning metalwork and engineering skills due to a lack of accommodation.

This extension is badly needed. Indeed, new equipment, which was paid for by the Department, remains unused because of the lack of space. I am sure the Minister would agree that this is the source of some embarrassment.

The gymnasium at the school is a fine building and was purpose built, but because of the condition of the floor covering has been closed to the school and to the local community, which had used it extensively. It was closed in 1992 by order of the Department of Education. Again, this is a source of some embarrassment for all in the locality, given that a building which cost in excess of £200,000 to build remains closed for the want of £20,000. As I said, the gymnasium was used extensively in the school, which is sport orientated. Indeed, their basketball teams have won all-Ireland honours. Outside school hours it was used by the local community. The Boley tug of war team have won world championships.

I thank the Minister of State at the Department of Education, Deputy Aylward, for visiting the school last October and the Minister for meeting a deputation from Ramsgrange recently and giving them a sympathetic hearing. The bottom line is that the number of enrolments has fallen from a figure of 92 first year students in 1992 to an anticipated figure of 57 in September 1993. There are other reasons for the drop in numbers, but undoubtedly the lack of space in the metalwork room and the condition of the gymnasium, which is now a no-go area, are major factors.

In summary, the fact that new equipment for metalwork students is not being used because of the lack of space is a source of embarrassment. Second, the fact that a massive building remains closed for the want of £20,000 is also a source of embarrassment. Third, the long tradition of second level education in the school is being badly affected. Fourth, this area is considered to be deprived by two Departments, the Department of Social Welfare and the Department of the Taoiseach. Fifth, rural development will mean nothing in this remote area if remedial action is not taken immediately. Sixth, pupils are unable to choose metalwork as a subject. Seventh, and perhaps most important, there has been a drop in the number of enrolments which can be directly related to this problem.

I ask the Minister to ensure that the school is not further downgraded, to sanction this project immediately and provide the necessary finance to give the people of south Wexford, the excellent teaching staff and, more importantly, the pupils at Ramsgrange the facilities which most other areas enjoy.

Ms Bhreathnach

I am grateful for this opportunity to respond to the matters raised by the Deputy regarding Ramsgrange Community School, New Ross, County Wexford. I am very much aware of the problems affecting the gymnasium at the school and also the application currently with my Department for an extension to the metalwork room.

I would first like to address the matter of the condition of the school gymnasium and give the Deputy a brief background to the case. In September 1991 the board of management submitted an architect's report to my Department outlining the condition of the school hall. Particular attention was drawn to the architect's recommendation that the sports hall be taken out of use pending renewal of the floor, in view of its dangerous condition. In the interests of the safety and the wellbeing of pupils and teachers, the board of management was compelled to close the hall until essential repairs could be carried out.

Additional information and costings were sought and submitted to my Department following which an architect was commissioned to oversee the remedial works to the hall. The necessary documentation was then prepared and in November 1992 was submitted for examination by my Department's technical staff and was generally found to be satisfactory. The total cost of the remedial works was estimated at £85,000, of which approximately £50,000 referred to replacing the hall floor. The position now is that the documentation to enable the remedial works to proceed is in place, and inevitably the question of capital funding of the project arises. Despite the validity of this case, I was unable to include the work in the 1993 capital programme. Because of the difficult financial situation pertaining at the moment all funds are being directed towards the provision of urgently needed classroom accommodation and emergency works.

I am fully aware of the importance of physical education facilities and regret very much that such a fine hall is temporarily out of use. I feel so strongly about this that I recently met with a deputation on behalf of the school who have now proposed that the remedial works to the hall be phased, with the work to the gymnasium floor to comprise phase 1. In addition, the deputation indicated that the board of management has new proposals in relation to the floor covering which will reduce the cost of this element of the work to approximately £22,500. I have asked the relevant officials to examine this proposal carefully and I hope I will be in a position to make a decision on the matter in the very near future.

I wish to come to the other matter which the Deputy has raised, the extension to the metalwork room. The background to this case is similar to that outlined by me regarding the school gymnasium. When this application was received in my Department and its requirement accepted in principle, an architect was commissioned to prepare drawings and specifications for this extension. These drawings, which were recently submitted, are now being considered in my Department and again a decision on whether to allow the project to go to tender will be made shortly.

I must again say that this decision, as with the sports hall, must be taken in the context of the availability of scarce capital resources. I wish to assure the Deputy, however, that the advancement of both projects as soon as possible is a matter of great importance to me and every effort will be made to proceed with them as soon as possible.

The Dáil adjourned at 9.15 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 17 June 1993.