Do I understand that the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation will reply to this matter?
Adjournment Debate. - Schools Building Projects.
I have raised this issue on many occasions and outlined the urgent need to allow the building of this school to proceed. I previously raised this matter on the Adjournment on 14 October 1999 and 28 June 2000.
In 1995, the gaelscoil was given priority status in the capital building budget for that year. It lost that status due to an unwillingness on the part of the Department to move the process forward. Full planning permission was granted in June 2000 and all requirements set out by the Department's planning and building unit in a letter dated 28 September 1999 have been fulfilled. There is no impediment to commencing the project and it is imperative that it should be immediately included for priority status in the capital building budget.
Six of the eight classes in the school are housed in prefabricated buildings which are in contravention of the Factories Act, 1955, and the Building Control Act, 1990. Asbestos is visible in some of the prefabs and radon detectors have been installed by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland. In one of the rooms the floor is split down the middle, water leaks into a number of classrooms and heating and sanitary requirements are completely inadequate for a school with more than 200 children and 11 teachers. Two toilet floors are in a state of collapse and some classes are taken in the community centre. Students have come to school and found their stationery and books missing and their desks covered with graffiti. The remedial room is totally unsatisfactory.
The gaelscoil pupils come from 36 parishes in west Limerick. Eight buses bring children from places up to 50 kilometres away each day. I have met some parents who have relocated from places as diverse as Singapore, Germany, the USA and England and who are proud to send their children to the gaelscoil. The school has been the recipient of many prestigious awards, not only from Ireland but also from Europe and, recently, the USA.
Details of these achievements were passed to the Taoiseach who recently visited the school. He saw the conditions which obtain at the school and agreed that action would be taken immediately. The urgent need for action will have to be communicated to the Department of Education and Science because it has displayed an obvious lack of urgency in respect of this matter. Symptomatic of this has been its lack of response to a letter sent by the gaelscoil on 8 November 1999. In this letter the gaelscoil requested the Department to refund £59,507.50 for the 2.5 acre site. There were also other associated costs which amounted to approximately £12,000. It is fortunate for the Department that, in light of escalating land values, the trustees of the school borrowed the money to finance the purchase of the site from Shannon Development. I demand that the Department of Education and Science, as a matter of priority, refund the trustees in order to effect the transfer of the land to itself.
The gaelscoil is situated quite close to the Ballygowan and the Nash mineral water factories, two local successful companies. Ballygowan alone has a minimum of 25 trucks with a gross weight of 38 tonnes each passing through the area every day. The nearness of these factories creates additional dangers for the children who attend this school.
There has been great frustration during the past 15 years about the type of facilities in which the gaelscoil must operate. It is a tribute to the members of the teaching staff that they have been so successful in their achievements, despite difficult working conditions. The Taoiseach visited the school on Thursday, 5 October and promised to contact the Department of Education and Science. Following his visit, I have no doubt he gained a full appreciation of the urgent necessity for the building of a new school.
As a Deputy based in Newcastle West, I will continue to fight for the right of parents, teachers and pupils to a proper educational environment. I will continue to fight for the right of the parents, teachers and pupils to a proper educational environment. It is important that action is taken to achieve this.
The parents, teachers and pupils have been tolerant over the years. Their tolerance can no longer be taken for granted. It is imperative that approval is given to the building of a new gaelscoil. I hope the Minister's reply is strong on action because this is now a matter of urgency. I look forward to hearing it.
I apologise to Deputy Finucane on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science who is indisposed and I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline to the House the Department's current position regarding the proposed new school for Gaelscoil Ó Dhogair in Newcastlewest, County Limerick.
The school's enrolment on 30 September 1999 was 217. At present the school is based in temporary accommodation in the local community centre and the Department of Education and Science is grant aiding 95% of the rental cost. However, in view of the fact that the obstacles in the way of purchasing the site for the new school have now been resolved the Department will make arrangements to advance the project to the point where tenders can be sought in the shortest time possible. I assure the Deputy that this case will be dealt with as speedily as possible, having regard to the large number of school building projects on hand within the Department.
On behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline the current position to the House.