I would like to take this opportunity of thanking you and the Minister for helping me to make this case here tonight with regard to Longwood Vocational School. In 1966, the present permanent structure of four classrooms was opened. One year later four prefabricated classrooms were erected. Plans were drawn for an extension by architects, McCormack, Keane & Partners, but the plans were never proceeded with. The following year two prefabricated schools were added. In 1976, plans were drawn by building construction teacher, Mr. P. Hayes, to build a building construction and metalwork room. This building was to be done by voluntary labour but unfortunately the idea was turned down. Finally, in 1981, an additional prefabricated room was erected having been purchased secondhand in Clonmel.
Six of the prefabricated rooms have been in use for almost 20 years. One of the buildings has reached the end of useful life and is in a very bad condition as the classrooms cannot be heated or ventilated adequately in winter. In warm weather they are too hot and stuffy and cannot be ventilated without opening all doors thus causing draughts. They are particularly unsuited to students sitting certificate examinations. Maintenance and heating costs are far higher than for the average permanent building. Heating costs amount to approximately £400 per annum per prefab room.
Toilet and cloakroom facilities were designed to cater for 80 students. Enrolment for this school year 1986-87 is 213 students. Some students arrive at the school at 8.10 a.m. having left home around 7.30 a.m. and do not reach home again until 5.30 p.m. No canteen facilities are available to cater for the students. The lack of permanent buildings does not help the teaching or learning environment. The school has no metalwork room. The lack of this facility and the temporary nature of old prefabs are a great hindrance to development.
Between permanent, shared and part time staff 16 people have to share a converted typing unit as a staff room without adequate facilities and there is no staff cloakroom or toilets. No facilities are available for hurling or football and when the new extension is erected the play area will be further restricted.
The school also lacks the services of a physical education teacher. No career guidance or remedial education services are available to the school. Because most of the students come from families who did not experience second level education themselves guidance services are needed to a greater degree than in the traditional secondary school. The need for remedial help is obvious from the reports submitted to the Department of Psychological Service in July 1986.
Building construction has to be taught to vocational preparation training programme students this year in a bicycle shelter. The Department of Education by letter dated 26 July 1968 intimated that it was prepared to sanction in principle the provision of a six room extension including a metalwork room at Longwood vocational school. The committee was also requested by the Department of Education in a letter dated 26 July 1968 to submit a schedule of accommodation for consideration.
A schedule of accommodation was submitted by County Meath VEC on 24 October 1968. The Department by letter dated 8 November 1968 intimated that it considered the schedule of accommodation as proposed by the committee satisfactory subject to one amendment. The Department requested the committee to submit sketch plans, outline specification and an estimated cost in respect of the proposed schedule of accommodation. I will give now a few pertinent details of VEC meetings. On 15 January 1969 the committee decided to request the Department of Education to provide an assembly/gymnasium area of a prefabricated type. On 21 August 1979 the committee submitted a development survey of the Longwood area to the Department of Education. The committee requested the Department to arrange for the reception of a deputation in order to discuss the position at Longwood.
The Department of Education by letter dated 27 June 1980 intimated that it was prepared to approve in principle the development of Longwood school to cater for 220 pupils. The Department also forwarded two schedules of accommodation, namely "A" and alternative "B" for the committee's consideration. The committee agreed to the accommodation proposals detailed under alternative "B". The Department of Education by letter dated 18 August 1980 noted the committee's proposal in relation to acceptance of the accommodation proposals detailed under alternative "B". The Department of Education by letter dated 30 October 1980 stated inter alia, that because of the extent of the Department's commitments in relation to vocational school buildings under construction and those already in the course of planning it was not possible immediately to initiate architectural planning of the Longwood project.
I would like to give now some details of planning progress. A briefing session in connection with the planning of Longwood extension was held on 26 May 1981 in the Building Unit, Department of Education. Documentation in respect of Stage 1, that is, site suitability, briefing and site report, was submitted to the Building Unit, Department of Education on 4 November 1981. The Department of Education by letter dated 24 November 1981 conveyed approval to committee to proceed to Stage 2, that is, the outline sketch scheme. Documentation in respect of Stage 2, was submitted to the Department of Education on 19 May 1982. The Department of Education by letter dated 28 May 1982 sought revised submission of Stage 2 Documentation in order to incorporate the amendment indicated by the Department's senior architect. The Department by letter dated 10 November 1982 requested the committee's design team to re-examine their proposals with a view to relocating the metalwork room and the boiler house. Revised proposals were submitted to the Department of Education on 30 November, 1982. Drawings in respect of the committee's revised proposals in relation to relocation of the boilerhouse were submitted to the Department on 10 February 1983. The committee's architect met Department's consultants on 1 March 1983 in order to discuss certain matters pertaining to the revised proposals outlined by the committee. The Department by letter dated 4 March 1983 requested the committee to submit a revised proposal in relation to the new boiler house on the basis outlined by the Department's senior engineer. Documentation in respect of revised proposals in relation to Stage 2, that is, outline sketch scheme, were submitted to the Department of Education on 8 July 1983. The Department of Education by letter dated 25 July 1983 stated inter alia that the preparation of a developed sketch scheme, that is Stage 3, might be proceeded with, subject to certain matters in relation to the site layout being examined.
Stage 3 documentation, that is developed sketch scheme, was submitted to the Department of Education on 27 October 1983. The Department sought additional information from the committee's design team on 7 November 1983. The committee's design team met Department's consultants on 11 April 1984 in order to discuss various matters pertaining to Stage 3 documentation submitted by the committee to the Department of Education. Revised documentation in respect of Stage 3, that is developed sketch scheme, was submitted by the committee to the Building Unit, Department of Education on 24 July 1984. The Department by letter dated 14 February 1985 conveyed approval to the committee to proceed to Stage 4, that is detailed design. The committee was authorised to prepare the working drawings, detailed specifications, cost check et cetera in respect of the proposed extension.
Planning permission in respect of this extension was sought from the planning authority, that is, Meath County Council, on 5 March 1985. Meath County Council by order dated 13 August 1985 decided to grant permission to County Meath VEC subject to 12 conditions as set out in the relevant schedule. An appeal was lodged by the committee to An Bord Pleanála against condition No. 8 imposed by Meath County Council in the schedule attached to the notice to grant a permission, that is the notice of decision, dated 13 August 1985. On 12 December 1985 documentation in respect of Stage 4 i.e. detailed design was submitted to the Building Unit, Department of Education. An Order was made by An Bord Pleanála determining the appeal made by County Meath VEC, upholding condition No. 8 of the notification of a decision dated 13 August 1985 and consequently County Meath VEC is required to pay the contribution in accordance with the requirement of condition No. 8.
The Department's consultants are examining the documentation in respect of Stage 4 which was submitted on the 12 December, 1985. The committee now awaits official approval to proceed to Stage 5, i.e. preparation of bills of quantities. If official approval to proceed to Stages 5 and 6 could be conveyed to the committee at the same time, this would obviously expedite the provision of the proposed extension.
That is all I have time for and I sincerely hope the Minister will be able to give a positive response.
