I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting my Adjournment matter, which is:
The need for the Minister for Education to sanction and provide funding for the alteration of dormitory accommodation to classrooms at the Salesian second level school at Pallaskenry, County Limerick.
The number of pupils attending the college is increasing and as a result extra classroom space is required. The issue is important to the population in the catchment area, which is increasing for several reasons, including rationalisation. At present pupils attending the college come not alone from Pallaskenry but from Kildimo, Adare, Clonshire, Shannagolden, Foynes, Kilcornan, Mungret, Clarina, Askeaton and Limerick city itself. The proposed development is important for the people of these areas. I ask the Minister to convey to the Government and the Minister for Education the urgent need to provide money to ensure that these extra classrooms are ready for the commencement of the 1994-95 school year.
For many years school numbers have been increasing in Pallaskenry. In the current school year, 1993-94, there are 390 pupils and this is set to increase next year to approximately 420. The dormitory space which has become available through the phasing out of the boys boarding school can be converted into classrooms to meet the increasing number of pupils. It is important for the proper management of the school in 1994-95 that funding is provided by the Department of Education to carry out the works I have outlined.
The need for the proposed development has been identified for over a year. In February 1993 the college authorities wrote to the Department of Education advising of the intention to convert the dormitories and requesting assistance. The Department immediately responded by requesting the college to complete form ST1. On 12 May last year the college forwarded the drawings of the proposed development and the Department did not communicate further until a letter was received by the college, dated 12 February 1994, enclosing an educational worksheet and asking for detailed information on the entire school, including the number of pupils and the number and size of classrooms. This information was forwarded by the college on 18 February of this year. I urge the Minister to favourably consider the application for funding as a matter of urgency.
Similar requests fell on deaf ears in 1990, when an application was made for assistance to convert another dormitory to a computer room and language laboratory. The then Minister for Education failed to respond to the needs of the college, which forced it to provide funding out of its limited resources. The college spent £40,000 on the computer room and £30,000 on the language laboratory. On this occasion the Salesian community cannot go ahead unless a grant is forthcoming as the finances are not available for the proposed development. It is important to the college and to the pupils that the proposed work is carried out.
I pay tribute to the work of the Salesian Fathers in Pallaskenry over the decades in their teaching and the preparation of people both for life at second level and entry into the farming community through the highly successful agricultural college. The Salesians came to Pallaskenry in December 1919. The first students were received into the college in January 1920 under the direction of Father A. Sutherland. S.T.D., who must be credited with the successful establishment of the college at Pallaskenry. Father Sutherland was a granduncle of Peter Sutherland, the present Director General of GATT. In 1922 the college was recognised by the Department of Agriculture and for a number of years the curriculum catered for commercial students as well as agricultural students.
The secondary school was established in the 1940s as a missionary college and was fully recognised by the Department of Education in 1948. In 1951 the recreational hall, with a large stage, was erected and this building was funded by the Salesians themselves. By the late 1950s the school had about 130 pupils, who were almost all boarders. There were no girls at that time. The first girls came in 1972 in response to requests by parents of the locality. At present girls make up over 40 per cent of the total school population.
Following the opening of the school to girls and the increasing number of day boys, there was an urgent need for new classrooms. These classrooms were completed in 1960 and new dormitories were also added for the boarding boys. Only the classrooms were grant aided by the Department of Education. In 1972 the indoor swimming pool was ready for use and was officially opened in 1974 by President Childers. The swimming pool was funded primarily from money raised through four and a half years of weekly bingo in the recreational hall and from dollars gathered throughout the United States. This fine pool is now available to school children throughout County Limerick and it is used extensively by groups of children and adults.
The present proposal represents an urgent need and is required before next year. I cannot overstate the need for this assistance, which arises because of demographic changes in the area. Pallaskenry is now almost a suburb of Limerick city. Kilcornan, Pallaskenry and Kildimo form a population growth area. In Kilcornan alone the population has increased tenfold in the past 25 years. People are coming from the city to build in the area and there are many new families. It is an expanding area and a growth area for families. I have already outlined the increase in the number of pupils in the school. I urge the Minister and the Government to look favourably on our proposal.
