Vol. 562 No. 3
10 Deputy Deenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science if Meánscoil an Leith Triúigh, Cloghane, County Kerry will be allowed to go to tender in 2003; the commencement date for the project in 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5746/03]
In January this year, for the first time ever, I published the 2003 school building programme, full details of which are available on my Department's website. The programme is intended to consolidate the substantial progress the Government has made over the last five years in improving the physical infrastructure in schools. A total of €342.9 million is available for spending on schools in the current year and over 550 primary and post-primary schools will benefit from the programme.
Meánscoil an Leith Triúigh is a co-educational all-Irish school with a current enrolment of 79 pupils. It is currently owned by an individual who is the sole trustee. It consists mainly of temporary prefabricated accommodation in poor condition.
My Department received an application from the parent-teacher committee, the Bishop, as patron, and Castlegregory Community Council to replace the existing accommodation with a permanent new school. The owner was not party to the application. Following examination of the application, my Department's planning unit recommended the building of a new school to cater for a long-term projected enrolment of 125 to 150 pupils.
The proposed building project is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. It is proposed to provide a new purpose built school on a new site in Castlegregory, County Kerry. However, matters pertaining to the purchase of the site have yet to be finalised prior to the project proceeding to tender. An application to provide temporary accommodation on the proposed new site has recently been received from the board of management of the proposed new school. This matter is being examined in my Department's building unit. It will be necessary to ensure the provision of any proposed temporary accommodation on the proposed new site will not hamper the provision of the new school in due course.
The Minister must be aware that the conditions in this school are among the worst in the country. Prefabs are rat infested and have asbestos tiling on the roofs; the fuse box recently blew up; the heating system is continuously out of order; the toilets are unusable and pupils are refusing to use them, which has led to a number of kidney infections. Will the Minister make a commitment that the school will be part of his programme next year and that he is prepared to go to tender towards the end of this year in order that work can start immediately next year? The school also featured in a recent article in the Irish Independent. If the Minister saw the photo of the school, he could only agree with me.
I am aware of the condition of the school and accept it is far from ideal. I do not accept that any school should be infested with rats or mice, something that should be easily resolved. The school board of management should make sure it is. The other difficulties at the school are very real, which is the reason it is part of the building programme. The finalisation of the site should be a first priority and, when that is done, the school will take its place in the schools building programme.
As I have told Deputies from all sides of the House, high profile media campaigns will not ensure any school jumps the queue. I will consider schools with respect to the Department's criteria in this regard. The school in question is in a serious condition.
It could not be worse.
I will not say it is the worst. However, it is in the building programme and will be dealt with according to the criteria and in order.
Written answers follow Adjournment Debate.
