I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this important matter. The accommodation in St. Cronan's junior and senior national school in Brackenstown, Swords, County Dublin is an utter scandal and the responsibility for it lies squarely with the Minister for Education and Science, Dr. Woods, and the former Minister, Deputy Micheál Martin.
St. Cronan's junior school was opened in 1974 and a senior school in 1977. Since then numerous prefabs and semi-permament rooms have mushroomed up to cater for increased enrolment. Par ents and teachers are totally disillusioned with the lack of progress and one cannot blame them. The school windows are in a dangerous condition where most of them are nailed together and cannot be safely opened to allow for proper ventilation of classrooms. Some rooms have no external doors and the condition of the floors, despite ongoing quality maintenance work has deteriorated. Tiles are broken in corridors and classrooms and carpets are dangerous due to wear and tear and damage caused by flooding and could give rise to an accident. Water and sewage pipes are corroded and one suite of toilets has been closed. In some classrooms the children are no longer allowed to drink the water. These conditions are most unhygienic. There are insufficient staff toilets and classroom facilities. I could go on.
These are the dreadful conditions under which the children of Brackenstown are being educated. The operation of the schools and the high standard of education provided is due entirely to the professional dedicated and caring approach of the principal, teachers, caretakers, secretaries and boards of management as well as to the parents for their fundraising over the years.
The Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Woods received a report in January 2001 part of which stated that the internal sheeting of the window section of the classrooms appeared to be made of asbestos and should be removed. Despite the fact that the Minister visited the school since then and met representatives of the boards of management and the Fianna Fáil public representatives in Leinster House, no inspection has taken place to date, 13 months later. This is a derogation of responsibility and is totally unacceptable. I demand that an immediate inspection be carried out on the schools and a report be issued to me and the boards of management of the schools.
In recent years the Government had a unique opportunity to deal with the crisis in our education system. Unfortunately this has been squandered, as can be seen by the conditions of the schools, notwithstanding the promises made in 1997. In that year the Taoiseach, Deputy Ahern, gave a written commitment to the board of management to provide a six classroom extension to the junior school. Nearly five years later there has been little or no progress.
In a recent reply from the Minister, I was informed that St. Cronan's junior national school is being extended and refurbished as part of the Government's programme and is currently in architectural planning. A proposed building project for St. Cronan's senior national school will proceed to architectural planning as soon as possible under the expanded building programme. Both projects will continue to a preparation of tender documents and the invitation of tenders as soon as possible under the expanded building programme.
On behalf of the parents, teachers and pupils of Brackenstown in Swords who feel they have been neglected by the Government, I assert that these empty promises are totally unacceptable to them and I demand the immediate refurbishment of both schools and specific commitments on the time frame of the permanent six classroom extension to these schools. Nothing less is acceptable.
