St. Edward's national school is a disadvantaged school, catering for children in a developing urban area in Sligo. An extension was approved to proceed to architectural planning on 11 November 1998 by the planning and building unit of the Department of Education and Science. Over the past three years the school has co-operated with all requests from the Department of Education and Science to furnish additional information and has been actively involved in the design of the extension to cater for the learning and development needs of the children attending the school.
During this time there has been significant overcrowding and at present four mobile cabins are on site as temporary accommodation, while awaiting approval of the extension. While acceptable for a short period, the cabins are not ideal accommodation for effective teaching and learning to take place. A decision is now needed to proceed with the agreed extension without further delay.
The school is currently involved in the new pro gramme for disadvantage, Giving Children an Even Break, and the pupil-teacher ratio for the classes between infants and second class is 20:1, as outlined in the programme announced by the Minister, Deputy Woods. However, due to the lack of classrooms, the school is unable to enrol this year its usual number of new entrants from the catchment area, which is very disappointing.
There is a positive local attitude to this school and the staff in the school is a highly committed team, with the skills and talents for working and making a difference in a disadvantaged school. Among its pupils, there is a higher than normal number of children with emotional problems and up to 50% of children require learning support. There are two resource teachers for Travellers as the school is in an area with a number of settled Travellers and an official halting site.
While this school is making progress in tackling disadvantage, the completion of the agreed extension will provide the physical resources and space necessary to create a suitable learning environment that will encourage pupils to participate and continue in education for longer, thus breaking the cycle of generational disadvantage.
In 1998, the Department of Education and Science division inspector assessed there was a huge need for this extension. This requirement is even more critical now as the school is endeavouring to participate fully in the new programme for disadvantage launched by the Minister. It would be contrary to the objectives of the Department and the needs of the school if it were unable to participate fully in this programme because of lack of accommodation.
This is a fantastic school with committed teachers. The extension was approved in principle in 1998 and three years on they still await the Minister's decision. I hope she will have some good news this evening.
