I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to answer my question regarding the urgent need to commence work on the building of the proposed new community school, in Rathmore, County Kerry.
I cannot overemphasise the urgency of this matter. At present approximately 125 students attend the vocational school and about 375 attend the Presentation Convent Secondary School. Working conditions for students and teachers in each of these schools are chaotic, unhealthy and most unsatisfactory. Ten classes — more than half the students attending the secondary school — are accommodated in three large prefabricated buildings which are in very bad condition. The same situation pertains in regard to Rathmore vocational school. The parents, County Kerry Vocational Education Committee and teachers in the vocational and secondary schools cannot understand why a contractor has not been appointed to build the proposed new community school, given the announcement by the Minister for Education earlier in the year that work would commence shortly, and the fact that tender documents were submitted to the Department in November 1995.
I cannot impress strongly enough on the Minister of State how important it is to appoint a contractor immediately so that the heavy excavation work which is necessary before work can start on the construction of the new school can be carried out during the summer holiday period. This work should commence in June.
The proposed new community school is urgently needed. It will take in a huge catchment area between Baraduff and Knocknagree and the Rathmore and Gneevgullia areas generally. Nobody in Rathmore and its catchment area can understand why the implementation of the health and safety regulations which came into force on 1 March 1996 should hold up this project. The proposed implementation of these health and safety regulations was well known to all the Departments of Government and local authorities well before the end of 1995.
As it may be impossible to reopen the Presentation Convent secondary school after 1 September next, I ask the Minister to give a firm assurance that a contractor will be appointed immediately to carry out the necessary heavy excavation work during the summer recess. I look forward to hearing the Minister's reply.
