I wish to share my time with my colleague, Deputy McGrath.
Adjournment Debate. - Schools Building Projects.
Is that agreed? Agreed.
This issue relates to the total inadequacy of the current accommodation levels at Gainstown national school, County Westmeath, which cannot cater for the numbers attending this popular and dynamic school. The area has an increased population base and the school cannot cater for either the current or future demands which Deputy McGrath and I will outline. It was built originally in 1930 as a two teacher school. An additional room was built in 1959, which constitutes the old part of the school buildings. Four additional classrooms were built in 1990, which was a well designed extension.
The board of management made a detailed and comprehensive submission to the Department seeking the immediate go ahead for the provision of an additional four classrooms to ensure the necessary space and other facilities are provided. At present the small staff room which caters for approximately seven teachers also serves as the school administrative office. This room serves a couple of days a week as a classroom for the remedial students in the school, which is not acceptable. Likewise, when the school nurse or medical team arrive to examine children, the room must serve as the focus for these examinations. Deputy McGrath and I recently tabled questions in this regard. Children are examined in full view of the school yard as there are no curtains. Most of the administrative work is carried out in the hallway and corridors of the school. The cloakroom and library are also located there.
There are currently 202 pupils in the school and this will increase to 216 in September. The Minister of State must agree that this constitutes gross overcrowding. He will also be aware that in the recent weeks the school was cited in the INTO's report on substandard schools. This referred to inadequate space, ventilation difficulties, inadequate toilet facilities and so on. Pressure of space led to the GP room being split in two by a curtain and used as two classrooms. This means pupils have no gym, no room for indoor sports, music or art. The Minister of State will be aware of the difficulties of teaching in such overcrowded conditions. This all amounts to extremely difficult conditions for teachers, pupils and managers. Due to overcrowding, there is virtually no furniture in the rooms except desks and chairs and there is very little space between the furniture.
Full details of conditions in the school have been already conveyed to the planning and building unit of the Department. Deputy McGrath and I raised the question of additional accommodation and facilities in the school in the Dáil on a number of occasions. I urge the Minister of State to expedite the process and deal with the application as a matter of urgency.
I thank my colleague, Deputy Penrose, for sharing his time with me.
Gainstown national school shot to notoriety in recent weeks when it was listed in the INTO report of below standard primary schools. The school is located approximately four miles from Mullingar town in a rural setting. It was originally built in 1930 for two teachers and a four room extension was added in 1990. The school currently has 202 pupils and seven teachers. It is grossly overcrowded with what was intended to be a GP room now being used, not as one classroom, which might be the case in normal overcrowding situations, but to facilitate two teachers, one teacher on either side of a curtain with their respective classes, and a class on each side of this flimsy partition. I am sure the Minister of State can imagine the difficulties teaching children in such conditions.
A remedial teacher visits the school two days a week and the only space available for her classes is in the staff room. Routine medical examinations by the school nurses must take place in the staff room in full view of the school yard. Cloakroom and library facilities are also available but only in the corridor. How can teachers and children work in such inadequate facilities? How can the Minister of State condone such a lack of physical infrastructure? An application for additional facilities in the school was lodged in the Department last November. This application has been examined and endorsed by the area inspector but there has been a deafening silence from the Department. The application has not even been formally acknowledged. In response to a parliamentary question today I was told that the matter is being examined and a response will issue as soon as possible. That is not good enough. The partners in education such as the board of management, parents, teachers and the Department's inspector agree that additional facilities are required. These include a GP room, computer room and multi-purpose room. I call on the Minister to approve an extension to the school and allow the school authorities to employ their own architect. In doing so, they can provide the necessary space needed to expand the school.
I wish to thank the Deputies for raising this matter as it gives me the opportunity to set out the position in relation to accommodation at Gainstown national school.
Gainstown national school is located approximately four miles outside Mullingar town. Pupil numbers in the school have increased from 174 in September 1999 to 202 in September 2000. The school currently has a staffing level of a principal and six class teachers. A remedial post is shared with a neighbouring school.
An application from the school authorities for additional accommodation was received in my Department in late November 2000. This application is being examined by the planning and building unit of the Department, in conjunction with a report which has been prepared by the inspector for the area. As soon as this examination is completed, a response will issue to the board of management at the earliest possible date. Pending a decision on the school's requirement for additional permanent accommodation, it is open to the board of management to apply for temporary accommodation under my Department's rental scheme. Under that scheme, 95% of the cost of renting interim accommodation is refundable to schools.
I reassure the school authorities that any decision by the board to rent accommodation as an interim measure will not have an adverse effect on my Department's decision regarding the provision of permanent facilities to the school.