I am sure the Minister will be pleased to deal with an issue that relates to his Department.
The Minister met the board of management and the principal of this school when he visited Kilnamartyra. I am pleased to have an opportunity to put on the record the problems that exist in this school and to appeal to the Minister, when making decisions about the allocation of primary school building projects for l998, to look favourably on this request. The conditions in the school are the worst I have seen in any school in my constituency for a long time. It is difficult to comprehend how two teachers can get on with the job of teaching pupils given the difficulties under which they operate.
The condition of the school building places the children at serious health and safety risk and interferes with their education. Overcrowding in the classrooms is such that children have to climb over tables to move around. There are three children at desks for two and some have their backs to the blackboard constantly. Two classrooms are divided by a partition and the noise from one classroom constantly intrudes on the other. This obviously makes teaching very difficult.
There is also a serious problem of dampness through the roof, walls and the chimney breast. As a result books cannot be stored and charts and maps cannot be hung on the walls. Soot stains ooze through the chimney breast which serves as the main heating system for the school. The flat mineral felt roof on the computer art room is leaking and in urgent need or replacement. Windows and doors are in such a state of decay that vermin regularly enter the building. No hot water is provided in the building. Toilets are open drained urinals. The toilet bowls are in a poor state of repair and the flat roof is in danger of collapse. The doors to the toilets are old latch doors which infants are unable to manage. The tiles in the hallway are chipped, broken and dangerous. External fascias and gutters are rotting, roof tiles are falling and the yard surface is chipped, broken and dangerous.
Some work carried out by the Office of Public Works two years ago was left unfinished to the extent that the Department of Education and Science has refused to pay the final part of the grant due. Fumes from the boiler room are admitted to the classroom through holes left in the wall after the repairs.
The building throughout clearly fails to comply with even minimum health and safety standards and constitutes a fire hazard. It is essential the Department of Education and Science acts quickly to address the problems along the lines recommended by the board of management.
The board of management has carried out a significant number of improvements, financed from parish resources in recent years. These include the provision of a new computer art room; the extension of a play area through the purchase of an adjacent field, fencing and layout of which is nearing completion; the purchase of a new computer and photocopier, a new TV and video, an encyclopaedia and library books and complete repainting and decorating externally and internally. Much of this work has been undone due to the serious state of disrepair of the building. Alterations to the main entrance have been carried out to improve safety and extra parking spaces have been provided. This has involved considerable investment by the board of management and the parish, but the works outlined earlier are beyond their capacity.
I have outlined in graphic detail the problems at this rural school. I appeal to the Minister to do what he can. I recognise he has a particular sympathy for schools in rural areas and I hope he can give a favourable reply.
