With all due respect to the Minister of State, and I mean that sincerely, I am disappointed that the Minister for Education is not here to listen and to reply to this debate. The Minister for Education is not taking this matter seriously. Her Department has examined the accommodation at Kilmurray national school and accepts that the best solution is a one classroom extension plus appropriate ancillary accommodation. Yet the Minister has not prioritised this school for such funding and she makes only a vague reference to the project being reviewed at a later date. The Minister seems to believe she has done her bit in providing grant aid to assist in the conversion of the hall for use as temporary accommodation. However, I would like to point out to the Minister of State, who will perhaps pass it on to the Minister, that the Minister is not accurate when she says a grant has been paid. Although much work has been completed at the school — for example, lighting, painting, carpeting, fencing, electricity, plumbing and fire equipment — to upgrade the hall, the school has not been given the grant. In addition, although the management has been informed that the grant has been agreed to in principle, the money has not yet come through. Perhaps the Minister of State will have some news about that.
Does the Minister for Education not appreciate the difficulties for the management of a school which is being run from two sites? If a teacher wants to bring her pupils to join the rest of the school she must accompany 21 four and five year olds along a main road on her own. Think of the danger and the loss of school time involved in such a procedure.
Does the Minister not appreciate the frustration of teachers, parents and the board of management regarding the existing situation? Conditions at the school are sub-standard and it is unfair to expect pupils and teachers to work there. Will the Minister guarantee that funding necessary for fundamental improvements will be prioritised and forthcoming from her Department following the 1997 budget? Will the Minister agree to meet a deputation made up of public representatives and the school's board of management in the next few weeks to discuss this urgent matter?
