I do not know why I codded myself into believing the Minister for Education would reply to this matter. As she does not reply to matters raised by other Deputies on the Adjournment I was foolish to think she might have replied to this one. I am glad my colleague from the south east, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry, is present even though he made some not very flattering remarks about us recently.
Adjournment Debate. - Kilmacthomas (Waterford) College.
I will deal with those too.
I am glad to have the opportunity to raise this important matter this evening and to support the application made by Saint Declan's College, Kilmacthomas for additional classrooms. There is a critical need for more space at that college and solutions are required in the short-term.
Kilmacthomas is located in mid-Waterford and this is the only second level college in that electoral area. There are 14 local primary schools mainly in rural areas and others in the towns of Portlaw and Kilmacthomas which feed into that college. This school has enjoyed a tremendous reputation over the years and as a result the clamour for places has become increasingly acute.
Parliamentary questions were tabled on this matter during the year, and, as usual, did not elicit much information. I hope that by raising this matter this evening a full report will be furnished as to what is happening and when the school authorities can expect to see some action.
Following the visit of an inspector the need for extra space in that school was confirmed by departmental officials. Arising from that, a design team was nominated by County Waterford vocational education committee, but members of that team have not been accepted by the Department.
As far as I am aware, the vocational education committee is still awaiting instructions to commence the architectural planning of the proposed extension.
To cater for the 542 students, the vice-principal's office and a converted bicycle shed are utilised for classroom purposes, which is ludicrous. The school cannot cope with the present enrolment and is hopelessly inadequate when one projects into the future.
As a result of this dire overcrowding the college authorities are afraid that the Department may decide to supply four prefabricated buildings. This would mean they could be waiting for a considerable period before any building work is undertaken. The principal and staff would be prepared to put up with the hardship if they knew they would get a new building eventually.
The present building was constructed in 1969 to cater for 90 pupils. An extension was provided in 1983 which now seeks to hold 542 pupils. I referred earlier to the feeder national schools in the area. Student numbers from these schools over the next four years will be as follows: 1996—200; 1997—163; 1998 —169; 1999—187. The school intake is based on a conservative 66 per cent from these national schools. The expected enrolment for the next school year 1996-97 is 670. Part of this increase is explained by the conversion to a six year cycle.
Based on the numbers available it is predicted that enrolment in St. Declan's Community College will level off in the year 2000 at the figure of about 680-720. In round figures, it can be reasonably expected that the requirement from the year 2000 onwards will be a school to accommodate 700 students.
The plans envisage an additional extension of 1,570 square metres, thus ensuring that essential facilities for students such as toilets, canteen and cloakrooms will be adequate for the projected numbers. Even at present these facilities are wholly inadequate.
The parents' council say that progress regarding new accommodation has been slow and does not reflect the urgency of the accommodation problems at the school. Parents, pupils, teachers, school management and all associated with this mid-Waterford school are waiting patiently for an immediate response to a deserving educational cause.
The Minister for Education, Deputy Bhreathnach, regrets she cannot be here this evening. I am pleased to have the opportunity to reply. As the Deputy referred to my affinity with Waterford, last Friday night I spent a considerable number of hours with the Waterford Chamber of Commerce and listened to their problems in regard to the second crossing of the bridge and the need for a university for Waterford. Certainly I will do all I can to assist them, even though it does not come within the remit of my Department.
I am grateful to the Deputy for giving the Minister for Education this opportunity to clarify the position concerning the provision of additional accommodation at St. Declan's Community College, Kilmacthomas, County Waterford.
This school was built in 1970 and an extension of 1,277 square metres was deemed necessary in 1982. An application for prefab accommodation, four classrooms, was approved in 1992 to accommodate the short-term increased enrolment at the school.
In 1994, County Waterford vocational education committee applied for an extension to accommodate the school's ever increasing enrolments and brought to the attention of the Department the serious lack of suitable accommodation at this school. The enrolment for 1994-95 consisted of 277 boys and 234 girls. The planning section of the Department of Education projects a long-term enrolment of 600 pupil places and additional permanent accommodation will be provided on that basis.
In July this year a schedule of residual accommodation and of suggested future use of existing accommodation was agreed by the vocational education committee. The extension will be 1,570 square metres and is estimated to cost in excess of IR£1 million.
The vocational education committee has nominated their design team which is currently being examined by the Department's post primary building unit's professional staff. It is hoped to begin the architectural planning of this extension early next month.
I assure the Deputy that the Minister for Education is fully aware of the urgent need for this extension at St. Declan's Community College and she will ensure that every effort is made to commence the architectural planning of this extension so that the new building may proceed at the earliest possible opportunity.