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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 20 Feb 2003

Vol. 561 No. 6

Adjournment Debate. - Schools Building Projects.

I welcome the opportunity to raise this important issue. Knockconan national school, Emyvale, County Monaghan is part of an agreed centre known as the Blackwater Community Learning and Culture Centre. It came about as a result of a community needs analysis and through cross-Border links between schools. The Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, visited the school for cross-Border regional celebrations. Apart from the primary school, the project will contain child care facilities, an IT centre, hospitality and catering training, together with a central hall and drama area which will also double up as a general purpose room for the school.

The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Department of Education and Science and the peace and reconciliation movement are all involved. Approval for the foundations and other work was given in February 2002 from peace and reconciliation funding, with a clear understanding that Department of Education and Science funding would come in 2003. I raise this matter, not from a political perspective or in terms of criticism, but to urge that an outstanding cross-Border project such as this, which has the agreement of all relevant organisations and Departments, should not be allowed to fall for the sake of a school grant of €1.1 million. At least, a commitment and a date must be given by the Minister for Education and Science so that other elements of the funding will not be lost.

The Collegiate secondary school in Monaghan was advised by letter on 20 May 2002 that it was envisaged that its extension project would proceed to tender stage towards the end of that current calendar year and that the contract would be in place and work would have commenced in the first quarter of 2003. On Wednesday, 22 January 2003, there was a phone call to the school at 3 p.m. advising of the good news that it was included in the 2003 programme. Senator O'Brien congratulated the school and wished it well. Later that evening, however, the true facts emerged and it transpired that there would be no funds after all.

The pre-fab buildings are 45 years old. Health and safety is a major issue. Electrical contractors have written a damning report, warning of fire hazards and many other problems. There is also an insurance problem. This is the only Protestant school in the county. Parents are being encouraged to send their children to schools in Armagh, Newtownhamilton and Dundalk. It is impossible for the management to explain how this school is being ignored while major and very necessary works are in progress at the three other secondary schools in the town – St. Macartans, St. Louis Convent School and Beech Hill College. The woodwork and metalwork rooms in which children are taught consist of old and dangerous pre-fabs. The accommodation and equipment do not comply with health and safety standards and require immediate attention. An IT unit room, similar to those of the other three schools, is vital, as are general repairs.

This Border region suffered much over the past century, with a drop in the Protestant population from 13,000 in 1928 to less than 4,500 today. If the Good Friday Agreement is to mean anything to the Border region, the Government, led by the Taoiseach, must find money for these two vital projects.

Knockconan is waiting at least ten years for this project. The application for these other buildings for the Collegiate secondary school was submitted five years ago. Some other schools, the applications for which were submitted only a year ago, are already in progress.

I hate to be either parochial or argue on a religious basis on this issue, but major questions are being asked about openness, honesty and transparency and about giving people that to which they are entitled. The Knockconan project is one of the truly cross-Border projects. The Taoiseach recognised that by visiting it. I would urge that a commitment at least be given so that that other moneys would be drawn down. All I ask for the Collegiate secondary school is that it be treated on a equal basis to the other schools which got necessary projects done.

I thank Deputy Crawford for raising the matter on the Adjournment. The Minister for Education and Science has asked me to tender his apologies. Unfortunately, due to other commitments he is unable to be in the House at this time. He has given me a brief which I am happy to relay to Deputy Crawford.

Having listened to the Deputy put forward the proposal, I can understand the frustration of the people involved. He indicated the number of years that these proposals have been hanging around before successive Governments which have failed to address them.

The Minister for Education and Science has endeavoured to put in place a clear understanding of where educational proposals currently lie by publishing the school building programme in the interests of all those involved and of transparency. That is why the Minister published the 2003 capital programme. Full details of individual projects are available on the Department of Edu cation and Science's website at www.education.ie. The programme is designed to give the maximum amount of information to managers, boards of management, principals, parents and students. The criteria used for selecting projects has also been published for the first time.

This year's building programme amounts to €342.9 million. This is, to put it in perspective, four times the amount allocated in 1997. The 2003 programme will deliver more than 140 large-scale projects at primary and post-primary levels. In addition, more than 400 schools will benefit in some way from the capital programme and of course all primary schools benefit directly from the devolved grants scheme for minor works.

The budgetary allocation for 2004 and subsequent years, together with the relative priority attaching to each individual project, will determine the rate of progress on projects currently in architectural planning such as the proposed building projects at Knockconan national school, Emyvale and Monaghan collegiate school, Corlatt.

However, I understand that the management authorities at Knockconan have recently submitted proposals to the Department of Education and Science, on how their project might be funded. The Department of Education and Science will consider these proposals and respond to the management authorities at Knockconan as soon as possible. I will ask the Department to keep Deputy Crawford informed.

The management authorities at individual primary schools should continue to use funds from their devolved grant to deal with any urgent health and safety matters. I thank the Deputy again for raising this matter. I hope this reply adds some clarity.

There is no good news, that is certain.

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