I welcome the opportunity to raise this important matter. I wish to briefly outline the history of the application for repairs to St. Barbara's national school, Castlerock, County Sligo, which is a one teacher school. In a reply to earlier representations I made on this subject, the Minister stated that because of the backlog of outstanding projects which accumulated during the period 1988-92 she was unable to fund this deserving project.
I wish to draw attention to three matters. First, the application for minor repairs to the school in question dates to 1992, not 1988. Second, a leading article in the Irish Independent of 1 April last stated that moneys available for school building projects had not been taken up by the Department of Education. Will the Minister comment on why? Third, seminars have been held in County Galway for several years in respect of one teacher schools and the need to approve accommodation in such schools. The Minister gave a commitment to take positive action. I would like to see her words transformed into action.
As already stated, the history of the application for repairs to St. Barbara's national school dates back to 1992. That application sought improvements to the heating system in the main classroom and the porch, the replacement of a number of windows in these areas, repairs to the water supply in the sink area and the provision of heating in the outdoor toilets. Later in 1992, the Office of Public Works visited the school and drew up a comprehensive plan in respect of it. Office of Public Works officials stated the Department of Education would not recommend upgrading any outdoor toilets and this policy had been in place for some time. The board of management disagrees with this policy as it would involve a substantial cost to transfer indoors the toilets which are maintained at a very high standard. All that is required is the provision of heating in these toilets. The board of management maintains this ambitious plan should be accommodated because of the low cost involved.
In December 1996, a new plan was drawn up by the Office of Public Works and was submitted to the building section in Tullamore in February 1997. An officer from the building section examined the school in March and has since submitted his report to head office. The school is situated in a disadvantaged area at the foot of the beautiful Ox Mountains. I invite officials of the Department of Education to return to inspect the outdoor toilets. The school has been visited annually, without prior notice, by officials of the North Western Health Board who stated that it has the best maintained toilets in the country. Will the Minister make money available for the repairs to which I referred?
