Ar an gcéad dul síos ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Aire Stáit as ucht a bheith anseo tráthnóna chun an rún seo a fhreagairt. Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil chomh maith leis an mBord Bainistíochta – na tuismitheoirí, na múinteoirí agus le fuireann uilig na gaelscoile i gCluain Meala as ucht an tsár-oibre atá déanta acu le seacht mbliana anuas. Bunaíodh an ghaelscoil i gCluain Meala i 1994 agus fuair an scoil aitheantas sealadach ansin. I 1996 fuair an ghaelscoil aitheantas buan.
In 1994 the Gaelscoil in Clonmel was established and received provisional approval from the Department of Education and Science. At that time there were two teachers and 38 children in the school. In 1996 permanent recognition was granted by the Department. Today, seven years after the founding of the school, there are 13 teachers, including a remedial and resource teacher, and 241 pupils. The school includes a naoínra, infants and the general classes from first to sixth. There is a waiting list up to 2006 for students who have applied to the school and there are already 75 applicants for the year commencing September 2002. The school can only take 25 children which means there will be 50 disappointed students and families.
In 1994, when the Gaelscoil was founded, temporary accommodation was found through South Tipperary County Council in the old council buildings and engineering offices in Irishtown and Clonmel. Everybody accepted that would be a short-term arrangement but the school is still there seven years later. The building is totally inadequate and unsuitable, especially for a school of this size. I have experience of the building as I worked there for a number of years with South Tipperary County Council. Unfortunately, since the school was given permanent recognition in 1996 there has been no attempt by the Department to buy a site or build a new school.
The rooms in the school are very small and the yard is too small to cater for the number of students. The roof is unsafe. Is the Minister aware that the INTO has served strike notice through its general secretary, Senator O'Toole, for a one day strike on 7 June? This is because of the totally unsuitable conditions for both staff and students.
Will the Minister indicate when the Department is to identify and purchase a site for the school? It should be done as quickly as possible, certainly within the next few months. There is much concern that the Department may be attempting, even today, to enter into a further long-term lease with South Tipperary County Council almost over the heads of the members of the board. That would be totally unsuitable and unacceptable to the school.
When will the Minister agree to meet a deputation from the school together with Oireachtas Members from the county? In this regard I wrote to the Minister on 5 April but have only received the usual official wallpapering replies.
