I thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, for giving me the opportunity to raise this important matter on the Adjournment.
On 20 September 1993 a letter was sent to the Minister from the three teachers at Ballyowen Meadows School, Balgaddy, Clondalkin. This is a small, special national school of 24 children under the patronage of the Eastern Health Board, caters for children with autism, language impairment, and children with various degrees of mental handicap and behavioural problems.
The school had moved from St. James's Hospital in 1975. Three years ago it was decided that, as the building needed major structural and decorative work, it would be preferable to move to an unused, or partly used, school in another area. The teachers explained to the Minister that the building required major renovation internally and externally, perimeter fencing and security systems at an estimated cost of £50,000, that it was unsafe for staff and parents to use the school outside normal school hours because of the potential risk to personal safety. They also explained that repeated burglaries and vandalism have rendered it impossible to keep equipment such as televisions, computers, photocopiers and so on, on the premises. Finally they explained that the pupils needed social training within the community and that the surroundings rendered this impossible because of vandalism and drug dealings in the vicinity.
The Minister was told that a suitable premises had been found at the Loreto School, Nutgrove, Rathfarnham which the Minister will know very well since it is in her constituency. Apparently it was the Minister's decision that this school would be used by a multi-denominational school.
On 17 November 1993 the Minister replied to a parliamentary question from me and others on conditions at the school and the need for alternative accommodation. In replying the Minister stated:
Further investigation of possible options is continuing on an urgent basis. I can assure the Deputies that every effort is being made to provide a solution that will meet the special needs of this case.
The Minister will be aware that the position has deteriorated in the past one and a half weeks during which there have been four incidents of vandalism, all the windows are now boarded up and it is estimated that it will cost £7,000 to repair them. In addition, teachers, nursing staff and 24 pupils have been virtually under siege for some time. Because of the damage to the building and, in particular, the threat to the safety of the children, the school has been closed since Friday last. It is not known when, if ever, it will reopen.
The Minister may have heard on "Morning Ireland" this morning the desperation of parents who must now cope with the children full-time. Some of the children are mentally handicapped, some have no speech, no sense of danger, are easily frightened and the condition of the school has increased their terror. All of them are extremely vulnerable.
If ever a situation demanded urgent action it is this but urgent action was promised last November. In the meantime, suitable accommodation has been provided for another school in the Minister's constituency. The suggestion that two schools could exist side by side at the Nutgrove premises has not been acted on. Another suggestion that St. Thomas's school in Esker might be a suitable location and that spare classrooms there could be utilised on a temporary basis has also hit the dust and the space allocated to Bosnian refugees. While I have the greatest sympathy for the Bosnians whose plight necessitates high priority, nonetheless so also do these unfortunate special children.
I am informed that a meeting has been arranged for tomorrow morning in the Minister's Department. I hope the Minister will be able to announce, either now or tomorrow morning the results of her investigation on an urgent basis promised six months ago and that this problem will be resolved.
