Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 14 May 1986

Vol. 112 No. 10

Adjournment Matter. - Listowel (Kerry) National School.

Mr. Deenihan

I thank the Minister for being present here tonight as I understand there are a number of meetings he should be attending. The matter I wish to discuss is of such urgency that his presence is required. This matter is of great concern locally especially to the sisters, parents, teachers and pupils of Listowel Convent. Listowel Convent National School was built in 1883. It is a two storey building with four classrooms downstairs and four upstairs. Two additional prefabs were added in the early seventies.

There have been no major alterations or renovations since 1883 to the main building. The school was condemned in the early seventies by the Department of Health officials. It was considered both a health and a fire hazard. Structurally the school is rapidly deteriorating. Major structural faults are appearing on the walls. Mortar and plaster are constantly falling from the walls especially around the windows and gable ends. Dry rot has also set in in the roof timber.

The slates on the roof are loose because the slate nails are rusted from old age and weathering. At times of high winds loose slates are often blown from the roof. A young student had a narrow escape when a slate was blown from the roof. Falling slates are a continuous danger to the children especially when entering the school in the morning or leaving it in the evening. The principal of the school, Sister Kathleen, has expressed her concern on numerous occasions to me. She asked me to raise this matter here. There is no fire escape from the rooms upstairs. The only exit is a narrow stairs. The Minister, as a former teacher, will appreciate the difficulty 130 children would have in leaving the school if a fire broke out.

There is also a very musty smell in the upstairs rooms caused by dampness and dry rot. At the moment there are 391 pupils attending the school, 254 of these are in the main building, divided equally between the upstairs and downstairs rooms. If the Department of Education allow the school to go to contract in the near future, the local parishioners are prepared to provide the necessary finance immediately. I earnestly request the Minister to ensure that the project is placed on contract as soon as possible.

Minister of State at the Department of Education (Mr. Kenny)

I thank Senator Deenihan for raising this matter. I appreciate the procedure in the Seanad regarding Adjournment debates but I am happy to give a brief response to the Senators comments regarding the Presentation Convent National School, Listowel, County Kerry. I assure the Senator that the Department are equally aware that the conditions in the school are not conducive to the proper procedure in a classroom. The conditions are unsuitable for the staff, the pupils and parents who avail of the facilities there.

It is proposed to erect a new school which will contain 14 classrooms, a general purposes room, a library, a medical room, a principal's room, a staff room, a remedial room and other ancillary accommodation. There will be ample hard play areas for the pupils and car parking facilities. There is the possibility in the plans for two further classrooms to be added if required at a later date.

I acknowledge that there has been a considerable time lapse since this grant application was first made by the convent authorities. The access arrangements gave rise to some complications when the project reached the planning permission stage. This took much longer to clear than usual. Tenders have been received and their examination has been completed.

The Department have under consideration the question of the release of the project to contract. This is one of a very large number of projects where the next step is the acceptance of a tender. The release of these cases to contract must, however, be ordered in such a fashion that the capital funds provided by the Department in the current financial year for national school buildings will be adequate to sustain regular payments as soon as construction work has begun. Obviously work already commenced would receive priority. Projects at the contract placement stage have to take their place in due order and in accordance with the capital which would be expected to be available when work is likely to start.

No doubt Senator Deenihan is familiar with the size and cost of the national school building programme. He will appreciate that the Department must be careful in settling specific starting dates. I take all of the points mentioned with regard to the present condition of the school which is accepted by the Department. The new school is at a point where we will shortly be able to decide on a date for placement of contract. With regard to finance being made available by the local people, this would already have been settled at a stage prior to invitation to tender or the local contribution has been agreed with the manager.

I am aware that the Listowel Convent project is an urgent matter. I express my sympathy with the local community in their concern that this project will start at the earliest possible date. I assure Senator Deenihan and all concerned that I will bear what the Senator has said in mind and I will take into account the general circumstances of the case when the question of a specific starting date for the actual placing of the contract arises. No doubt that will be a burden removed from the shoulders of the Senator and the local community. In the near future I hope to be able to allocate a specific starting date for the placing of the contract.

Mr. Deenihan

I would like to thank the Minister for his very positive reply.

The Seanad adjourned at 10.10 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 15 May 1986.