Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 9 Dec 1993

Vol. 437 No. 1

Adjournment Debate. - Clonmel (Tipperary) School Accommodation.

Mrs. T. Ahearn

Thank you, Sir, for giving me permission to raise this most urgent matter. There is an appalling accommodation shortage in the Christian Brothers High School in Clonmel. It is alarming that the school cannot accept first year pupils in September 1994 unless the Department takes action. Is there any other town in Ireland that cannot provide a secondary education for the boys in its catchment area? This is the serious situation facing the principal, staff and the parents of prospective pupils in Clonmel.

This is not the first time that such facts have been presented to the Department of Education. In June 1992 I rose in this House to put those points to the then Minister for Education, but the facts that those of us who represent the people of Clonmel put to the Minister were not taken as reality. We are now approaching a crisis and September 1994 is the deadline. Unless classroom accommodation is provided by the Department of Education, pupils cannot enrol in the Christian Brothers High School in Clonmel to begin their first year of secondary education.

Furthermore, the Minister for Education has set out guidelines for enrolment in secondary schools in which she rightly states that she disagrees with entrance tests. However, what is the option before the principal in this school? How can he offer places to pupils when he has not got the classrooms? The Christian Brothers High School has refused entry to 301 students over the past five years. That means that 60 students each year have been refused a place in the school. Research has shown that there will be in excess of 100 students wishing to enter this school each year for the next ten years.

A decision is needed before Christmas because accommodation must be provided for September 1994. To date, the Department has offered a grant of only £60,000 for four pre-fab classrooms. The principal, staff, the board of management and the parents have refused pre-fab accommodation and I stand by their refusal. They want permanent accommodation because they know there will be sufficient students to fill the additional accommodation that will be provided.

I ask the Minister to share the anger, the worry and concern of those of us who represent Clonmel and to appreciate the impossible situation in which the principal finds himself and to share also the enormous anger of the parents. Where will students in Clonmel go to school in 1994? All we are looking for is over £100,000 to build four permanent classrooms to get us out of what I would call the most impossible situation that a school has had to confront. It is unreal that as we approach the next century students in a town like Clonmel will not be able to go to school in the Christian Brothers High School in September 1994. The Christmas season is approaching and I ask the Minister to give us good news because the people of Clonmel need this news.

Deputy Ferris rose.

An Ceann Comhairle

Does the Minister of State wish to share his time with the Deputy?

Mr. Aylward

Yes.

Mr. Ferris

I will just take one minute of the Minister's time.

What Deputy Ahearn has said is correct. However, let me put on record that a request was made to the Minister to meet a deputation from the Christian Brothers High School, Clonmel, to which she acceded; but, following meetings with Department officials and the school principal and the parents' representatives, the deputation was postponed because progress was being made. That is for the record so that the public will know that major progress has been made in this case.

Mrs. T. Ahearn

On a point of order, Sir——

An Ceann Comhairle

I hesitate to entertain a point of order when we are dealing with a five minute debate as it erodes precious time.

Mrs. T. Ahearn

I spoke to the principal of the Christian Brothers High School in Clonmel one minute before I came into the House and no progress has been made. Progress will not be made until such time as we get the additional accommodation.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Chair finds itself in an invidious position, for obvious reasons.

Mr. Ferris

I have put the facts as told to me by the principal and parents and, indeed, the Minister's office, with whom I have been dealing on a regular basis.

Mr. Aylward

I thank Deputy Ahearn for raising this matter, Deputy Ferris for contributing and, indeed, all the Deputies in South Tipperary, including yourself, a Cheann Comhairle. I know, Sir, that you cannot say anything here but I have noted your interest in this matter also.

Last September I visited that school to see if I could be of assistance. As Deputies know, there are four post-primary schools in Clonmel post-primary centre, two of which cater for boys — the high school and the vocational school. The Department's main responsibility in the matter of school accommodation is to ensure that in any given centre or catchment area there are sufficient post-primary places overall to meet immediate and long term needs. Therefore, any application from a particular school for additional accommodation must be considered in this context.

In the case of the Christian Brothers High School, the school authorities submitted proposals to the Department which included a proposal for the provision of some additional accommodation. Having examined this matter, it was decided by the Department that there was sufficient accommodation in the centre to meet projected long term requirements.

Mrs. T. Ahearn

That is not true.

Mr. A. Alyward

However, it was recognised that in view of the current enrolment in the school and the likely short term enrolment figures, there was a need for additional short term provision of accommodation to meet the immediate needs of the school. This requirement arises because it appears that a majority of parents prefer their sons to attend the Christian Brothers High School. The result is that the Christian Brothers High School is unable to cope with current demands on its accommodation level whereas there is surplus accommodation elsewhere.

In order to meet the school's immediate needs therefore an offer of grant aid for the provision of an extra three classrooms and a mechanical drawing room, together with toilets and circulation area, was made to the school. This offer was unacceptable to the school, however, and the matter has since been under further discussion. The Department recently met the school authorities and agreed to review the pupil projections for the school. This review of enrolments has been carried out and a further meeting will be arranged shortly with the school authorities to examine how best to meet the school's needs, both short term and long term. The question of replacement of the roof and windows which are causing problems will also be discussed at the meeting.

I am very conscious of the need to have the problem resolved as quickly as possible. I would therefore like to assure the Deputies that every effort will be made to reach an agreement with the school authorities without delay.