Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 21 Feb 2002

Vol. 549 No. 2

Adjournment Debate. - Schools Building Projects.

Mr. Gormley

It is regrettable that the Minister of State at the Department of Public Enterprise is answering this matter on which I have tried to contact the Department of Education and Science to get the latest information.

This is not the first occasion on which I have raised the inadequate facilities in Muckross Park School, a girls' school located in the heart of Dublin 4, where the students are from solid, middle class backgrounds. Behind the affluent facade, however, much is wrong. I have received letters from many parents and raised the issue with the Minister. Parents tell me that the school urgently needs to deal with the present substandard and overcrowded conditions. As there is no room for one third of the students in the main building, six classes, totalling 180 girls, are taught in three old prefabs which are more than 25 years old. Features include totally inadequate heating and insulation, leaking roofs, doors and windows, windows that do not shut properly, toilets in only one of the three prefabs, holes in the doors and walls, and condensation and damp throughout.

This is totally unacceptable, but it reflects the reality of the Celtic tiger. My new constituency colleague, Mr. McDowell of the Progressive Democrats, appeared on "Prime Time" during the week to tell us what would happen if the Green Party was in government. I made the point that the Green Party is in government in Finland and Germany and there would never be such accommodation in schools in those countries. This is the eighth richest State in the world, but look at our services – public transport, education and health. They are completely run down. This shows that our priorities are completely wrong.

There was a delay in dealing with the question of tendering for prefabricated classrooms. Tenders were submitted by Muckross Park School in November 2001 to the Department of Education and Science from which there had been no word at the end of January. Sanction may have issued since, but the delay is unacceptable at a time when money is available. Education should be at the top of our priorities.

If the Government cannot act to assist affluent areas, God help those in the areas of our city where people do not have money. They will be in a dreadful state. I hope when it comes to Muckross Park School these unacceptable delays will not continue.

Minister of State at the Department of Public Enterprise (Mr. Jacob)

The Minister asked me to deal with this matter in his unavoidable absence.

I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity of outlining to the House the Department of Education and Science's position on the proposals for construction of prefabricated classrooms at Muckross Park School, Donnybrook, Dublin 4. I would like to provide some background information on the case. In March 2001 the school authority made an application for repairs and replacement of existing prefabs. A letter issued to the school informing it that the Department required a report on the current condition of the existing prefabs.

Following receipt of the requested information, a letter issued to the school authority in June 2001 informing it to request its design team to prepare tender documentation for replacement prefabricated accommodation instead of repairs and upgrading to the existing prefabs. Tender documentation was received in November 2001. The Department's technical staff examined the documentation and requested clarification on the type of prefab to be utilised. Revised documentation was submitted by the school's design team, but, again, the requested information was not submitted. In January 2002 a response was submitted to the Department's building unit and is being examined by the Department's technical staff.

I take this opportunity to inform the Deputy that the Department has sanctioned the architectural planning of a new school for Muckross Park School on the existing site to cater for 550 pupils and a total area of 5,490 square metres, the architectural planning of which is at stage three. It should be noted that the key to expediting progress in any building project is the client accepting from the design team it appointed submissions in compliance with the Department's design team procedures. Failure on behalf of the client to monitor its own project and the submission of incorrect or incomplete documentation will result in delays outside the control of the Department.