I wish to share my time with Deputy Brendan Smith.
Adjournment Debate. - Ballinagh (Cavan) School.
That is in order.
Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, for allowing me to raise this very important local issue of Ballinagh national school. While thanking the Minister of State for coming into the House, I regret that the Minister did not see fit to come in to reply. Nevertheless, I hope that the Minister of State brings good tidings.
The saga of Ballinagh national school goes back to 1968 when Drumcor and Drumcrow schools were closed and amalgamated with that at Ballinagh without adequate provision. For example, two prefabs were built. There are at present 173 pupils attending Ballinagh national school for whom there are two toilets for 88 boys and four toilets for 85 girls, with seven staff sharing. Could anybody say that they comprise adequate hygienic facilities for young boys and girls and their staff at that school?
The school is grossly overcrowded, its classrooms being totally inadequate for the number of pupils attending. It is a danger, a fire and health hazard and is rat-infested. The pupils and their parents have tried to make provision, taking in portion of the hallways, converting them into utility rooms, where the children can store their schoolbags and coats. In addition, on wet days there are no facilities available outside the school for the children to play or even to shelter when taking lunch.
Entrance to the school is by 28 steep steps from a national county road. Can anybody in this House state that constitutes a proper entrace given that we must have consideration to the rights of the handicapped? There is no provision for them. The 28 steep steps lead to a very busy road on which all traffic to the school — school buses and cars belonging to parents and staff — must park. it will be readily appreciated that this entrance is extremely dangerous, particularly since a proposal to provide a school warden there was turned down on the grounds that it would be too dangerous. If and when there is a fatality, something will be done but we are endeavouring to prevent such an occurrence.
The proposal to renovate the school is not acceptable on any grounds, especially when we speak about getting best value for public moneys on economic grounds. The proposal to reconstruct the school at a cost of £150,000 in addition to a proposal to improve the entrace — about which I have just spoken — at a cost of £120,000 may seem a lot of money but it must be borne in mind that it will be necessary to purchase and gain rights-of-way from farmers and private householders which must first be negotiated. If we go along that road, reconstruct the old school and provide a new entrance, we will still not have a proper, modern school. The people of Ballinagh, to their credit, are asking the Department of Education to build a new school at a lesser cost than renovating the old one — which is common sense, a new school of modern design to adequately facilitate the children. A site for such a school is available in an ideal location, right beside the local community field to which the children would have access to play games and develop their various sporting activities.
Will the Minister of State listen to the children's parents, build a new school and give the House an undertaking to do so now since it is urgent? There is no point in saying that the Department will take another look at the matter because that would not be acceptable. The conditions at this school can only be described as third world and inadequate. Indeed the parents of pupils attending the school have put up with quite a lot. They are at present engaging, with their children, in a one day strike which they really did not want to do.
I appeal to the Minister to reconsider this decision and to build a new school deserving of the people of Ballinagh.
I thank Deputy Boylan for sharing his time with me and agree with the detailed case outlined by him.
Ballinagh national school has six teachers for 173 pupils, the present accommodation there being totally inadequate and dangerous. For example, the location of the school along a busy road is of particular concern to parents, teachers and pupils. The four undersized classrooms were provided in 1934 and the two prefabs in 1968, the latter following the amalgamation of three schools in the Ballinagh area.
The provision of a new school there has been under discussion since 1970 but, in reality, little or no progress has been made. The Department of Education has consistently modified proposals for the provision of proper facilities in this new school project. Approval to commence planning for a new school, on a new site, was given in 1985. However, the Department has endeavoured to rescind the decision to provide a new school and consider a major refurbishment of existing accommodation. Such a proposal is not acceptable to the pupils, teachers or parents.
I appeal to the Minister of State to use his influence with the Minister and senior departmental officials to commence immediately planning of this new school on the green field site which has been made available by the local community. Major refurbishment of the existing school will not be satisfactory. The population in the Ballinagh area is growing. We have a committed and dedicated teaching staff, board of management and parents' association and their realistic and sensible proposal should be approved.
The continued delay by the Department is causing major anxiety to the people concerned and an early and positive response to the ongoing representations of Deputy Boylan and I and the parents and board of management is needed. I agree with the sentiments expressed by Deputy Boylan that we are glad the Minister of State is present to hear our concerns and those of the community in Ballinagh.
I am glad to see the united approach of Deputies Boylan and Smith on this matter. I acknowledge that this has been a long drawn out saga. I recall, at the request of Deputy Smith, meeting a deputation in the summer of 1992. Deputy Boylan also accompanied the deputation. If I am not mistaken I may have received another deputation since then. The motion refers to the request to the Minister to reconsider her decision to build a new school in Ballinagh this year. As Deputies will be aware, the entire capital allocation for national schools was announced by the Minister in the press.
This is a six teacher school which had an enrolment of 167 in September 1993. The existing accommodation consists of four classrooms plus two prefabricated classrooms provided in 1968 to facilitate the amalgamation of Drumcor and Drumcrow schools into Ballinagh, County Cavan.
The need for a major upgrading of the accommodation at Ballinagh national school has been agreed in principle by the Department. Approval to commence planning for a new school on a new site was given in 1985. The approval was modified in 1989 in favour of a less expensive building on the new site. In the same year the Department modified the proposed project again in favour of a development on the old site — conversion and extension to provide three new classrooms. This was not proceeded with because of lack of priority and availability of funds.
A deputation in July 1992 again requested a school on a new site. There was a considerable cost difference between the development of the old site and a new school at the then current cost levels. Preference for a school on a new site was reiterated at a meeting with the school authorities in November 1993. The delegation was in favour of this option because of the hazardous location of the old site — adjacent to a very busy road without a bus pull-in facility.
The main problem on the part of the Department lay in the fact that the structure of the old school building is still very good. Thus the Department would have trouble in justifying the abandoning of a good school and spending a considerable extra sum of money building a new school on a different site.
The question of providing another entrance to the school behind the church was discussed with the delegation. It would necessitate the acquisition of two separate areas of land to the rear of the existing school so that access could be available to the site. The delegation informed the Department that they were not in a position to purchase the two plots of land as it would be too costly. As a result of the meeting the Department's architect was asked to update the cost of a two classroom extension and a three classroom extension at the existing school, including the provision of a bus pull-in and a tarmac play area in each case. He was also asked to update the cost of a new four classroom and a five classroom school on the new site. He has confirmed that an alternative entrance to the existing school site, behind the church is feasible. It would also be possible to provide a bus pull-in facility at the existing entrance to the school. A decision will be made on which option for development is to be selected as soon as further reports are available and following further discussions with the school authorities.
The chairman has been informed that this project will be considered for inclusion in the 1995 capital programme. I can assure the Deputies that a decision on which option for development is to be selected will be made in good time to allow for its inclusion in the 1995 capital programme for primary schools. In the meantime there is adequate time to consider the best option from the point of view of both the school and my Department.
The Dáil adjourned at 9.25 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 3 February 1994.