The Minister of State will be aware of Gaelscoil an Teaghlaigh Naofa, Ballyphehane, and any examination of it will show that conditions at the school need to be urgently addressed. Although an application was made in 1992, nothing has materialised since. Negotiations with the Department have been ongoing. Recently a representative of the Department indicated that the project was not a priority, much to the disappointment of the school. That proposal would be totally unacceptable and not feasible, in the opinion of the schools inspector, the INTO, teachers and parents.
The Minister of State will also be aware that the Gaelscoil in Ballyphehane, whose enrolment increases annually, is located in a designated disadvantaged area. It serves the parishes of Ballyphehane, Togher and Turner's Cross and is attended by children from as far away as Blackrock and Douglas. Therefore, it will readily be seen that an additional building is sorely needed.
I am talking about the erection of a permanent structure comprising a general purposes room, a new classroom, an office, hall and toilets. The last-mentioned are a necessity since ten teachers and six FÁS workers share one toilet. The accommodation provided for the principal and secretary would be laughable if it was not so serious. They share a room of eight feet by eight feet, without ventilation or windows, which could be described only as a cupboard.
In addition, there is the constant danger of children crossing a very busy road to engage in physical education in the community centre. The Minister of State will readily appreciate the fears of teachers and parents that, each time they cross, these children put their lives in danger.
I appeal to the Minister of State to pay attention to the plight of its teachers, pupils and parents. Since this school has been designated as disadvantaged and the amount required is not enormous, every effort should be undertaken to provide the necessary facilities there. At a time when there are many charges that Cork itself is being neglected by this Government, they will not be slow, nor will I, to point out that this is another such example.
On the eve of a general election I appeal to the Minister of State to make the necessary finance available. He will be well aware that if these pleas were made in respect of Tralee, Dún Laoghaire or Galway, represented by Labour Ministers, they would be throwing money at them. Let us avoid the hassle that will ensue in the course of the general election campaign, get over the neglect of Cork by remedying the neglect of this Gaelscoil in Ballyphehane and provide the requisite funding if only by way of a dying kick on the part of a dying Government.
