This issue is an important one in the Adare area. The school is expanding at a time when most schools in west Limerick are contracting. There is extensive growth in the population in this area and an extra classroom is urgently required as a fourth teacher will be appointed in the next school year.
Shountrade national school is three miles from Adare and is currently celebrating 60 years of dedicated service to the young people of the area. During that 60 years numbers have grown steadily. In 1981 there were 33 pupils, in 1990, 60 pupils and there are now 94 pupils in the school. This unique and exciting development is a success story, and I pay tribute to past and present teachers, principals, members of the boards of management, parents and the students themselves. The school now has two permanent classrooms and one prefabricated building. A fourth teacher will be appointed in September 1998 based on the current enrolment, and this will create a need for further accommodation. The board of management is adamant that a permanent classroom should be built, as the projected enrolment for future years is approximately 100 pupils. Sanitation in the school is very basic and must be upgraded to meet health and safety standards. The new classroom and toilets must be in place for next September.
The success of the school can be seen in the recent school assessment. It states that
A feature of this school has always been the keen interest taken by the parents in the school and their support for it. The high esteem in which the school is held by parents is due in large measure to a lifetime of dedicated service to the school and its pupils by the recently retired principal . there is a very pleasant rapport among the staff and between the staff and pupils and in general a very pleasant atmosphere is evident in the school . the principal and staff of this school are highly commended for their dedication and commitment . the board of management and parents are also praised for their support for and interest in the school . throughout the school the teaching of Irish is done carefully and well, the students read English with confidence and clarity . writing in both languages is very satisfactory .in all sectors of the school the students proved themselves very well in mathematics and good use is made of concrete material to aid the pupils' understanding . an interest in nature and natural environment is fostered. .history and geography are very well taught . a wider range of activities in art and craft is undertaken and integrated with the rest of the curriculum . a good program in teaching skills of major games with enthusiastic participation by pupils .
This school needs proper accommodation and sanitary facilities to ensure its continued success. Prefabricated classrooms are unacceptable in 1998. We have a duty to our young people, to our educational system and to our future leaders to have proper facilities for their education. Teachers should have proper accommodation also. I urge the Minister and the Department to remove any obstacles to the school's progress and to ensure that the classroom is in place for the next academic year.
