Tá scoil náisiúnta Ghort a' Choirce suite i nGaeltacht Dhún na nGall, ceann de na paróistí Gaeltachta is fearr agus is saibhre sa tír. Tógadh an scoil i 1929 agus tá sé suite ar Bhóthar N56, bóthar a bhfuil trácht íontach trom air agus atá íontach contúirteach do na daltaí ag dul isteach ar maidin agus ag teacht amach tráthnóna. Ar chúl na scoile tá an fharraige, Bá Chort a'Choirce. Tá an t-uisce sa bhá truaillithe.
Deirtear go bhfuil ard-leibhéal e.coli ann. Nuair a thig an fharraige isteach nuair a bhíonn rabharta ann, tagann sí isteach i gclós na scoile agus tá's ag gach duine go bhfuil sé sin thar a bheith contúirteach do shláinte na ndaltaí atá ag freastal ar an scoil. Tá na seomraí sa scoil an-bheag. Níl siad oiriúnach do chúrsa léinn nó d'oideachas an lae inniu. Tá na hurláir i ndroch chaoi agus tá an scoil féin tais. Tá luchóigí ar fud na scoile de réir an bhord sláinte. Chomh fada agus is eol dom tá iarratas istigh ag an Roinn le rud éigin a dhéanamh maidir leis an scoil seo. Deir bord bainistíochta na scoile, na múinteoirí agus na tuismitheoirí gurb é an t-aon réiteach ar an cheist ná scoil úr a chur ar fáil i nGort a' Choirce in áit a bhfuil an sean scoil ansin le breis agus 70 bliana.
Gortahork national school is situated in the heart of the Donegal Gaeltacht. It is a five teacher school and was built in 1929, with some renovations carried out in 1959. One could say it is located between the devil and deep blue sea. At the front is the busy N56, a continuous hazard to pupils entering and leaving the school. However, the more serious hazard is at the back of the school, Gortahork Estuary. During spring tides the school yard and play area are flooded and there is a high level of e.coli contamination in the water. The presence of e.coli in tidal waters has been independently verified by Aqualab, an independent monitoring company, and is disturbingly in excess of EU safety levels. After every flood tide the yard and playground must be disinfected. Anyone must recognise that this poses a definite health hazard. Some of the classrooms are rat infested and could possibly be carriers of E.coli.
The school is on the INTO's list of substandard buildings. The only long-term solution to the problem is a new school. The existing facilities are completely inadequate to meet the needs and requirements of teaching effectively the modern curriculum. A site is available, but everyone is frustrated at the delaying tactics of the Department. What we, in Gortahork, need is an immediate decision to provide a new school on the available site in order that the best education possible is provided for the pupils attending the school and the best possible facilities for the five dedicated and committed teachers. Tá siúl agam go mbeidh freagra maith ag an Aire Stáit ar m'iarratas anseo anocht.
