Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 26 Feb 1997

Vol. 150 No. 5

Adjournment Matter. - Ballingarry (Limerick) School.

Mr. Neville

I wish to raise the issue of the completion of an extension of the boys' school in Ballingarry, County Limerick. There are two schools in Ballingarry — a girls' schools and a boys' school. The girls' school is based in the old convent school which was in operation until 1986 when the convent was sold. The residence became a private house and the school was given to the parish. The parish has the school building but does not have direct access to the outside walls at the back and at one side for repair and maintenance purposes because they are on private grounds. The roof was in a very bad condition and it had to be stripped and repaired. However, it could not be done on the private property side. Half of the roof and the floors have deteriorated beyond repair and it would be a waste to spend money on them.

In 1994 the parish and the schools voted for an amalgamation with the boys' school, given the condition of the building and the difficulty of access to it. Cars cannot get within 100 yards of the school and this causes problems in bad weather.

The girls' school has four teachers. Its enrolment is mixed, up to and including second class, and is girls only from second class. The boys' school is in good condition. It has two teachers and 30 pupils from third to sixth class. It does not make sense to split up the pupils in this manner. Some parents bring children to both schools which are at opposite ends of the village. In the fourth class, for example, there are eight pupils in total, that is, three girls in the girls' school and five boys in the boy's school.

There are 99 pupils in the girls' school and 30 pupils in the boys' school — 129 pupils in total, which is sufficient for one school. The plans to extend the boys' school are at an advanced stage. The nature of the split of the two schools results in doubled expenses — double water rates, electricity and telephone connections, refuse collection, insurance and television licences. The present arrangements do not make sense given the size of the schools and the condition of the girls' school. There is an urgency about rationalising the schools. This has been lobbied for by parents and teachers alike. The Minister should ensure that this rediculous situation is rectified this year.

Minister for Defence (Mr. Barrett)

I am glad the Senator has given me the opportunity to outline to the House, on behalf of the Minister for Education, the current position regarding the proposed extension to Ballingarry boys' national school, Ballingarry, County Limerick.

The Ballingarry boys' school is due to amalgamate with Ballingarry girls' national school and, to facilitate this amalgamation, a building project was included in the Department's 1995 capital programme for planning. The project comprises a three classroom extension, a general purpose room and ancillary accommodation at the boys' school, together with alterations to the existing building.

At present the boys' school has a staffing level of a principal, one assistant teacher and an enrolment of 29. The girls' school is currently staffed by a principal, three assistant teachers and has an enrolment of 99.

The inclusion of the school on the 1995 programme should be seen as the beginning of a process involving detailed examination of enrolment projections, the assessment of the two school buildings, the preparation of contract documentation for works to the chosen building, the invitation of tenders and the award and execution of a contract. At present the project has reached the stage where the documentation required to invite tenders is prepared and the pre-qualification tender process has been completed.

Due to budgetary constraints, the Minister is not in a position to authorise the release of this project to tender immediately. Recently, the Minister approved 27 national school projects for tender and contract stages. However, it was not possible to include all deserving projects in the first round of projects which were allowed to proceed to tender stage.

The Minister will keep expenditure on the primary school building programme under review this year and she expects to release a number of additional projects to tender and contract on a phased basis later this year. The number of projects to be released will be contingent on the results of the tender process for the 27 projects already announced, the progress of those projects and the overall funding position at the time. The school management will be kept informed of developments. The Senator can be assured that the needs of the school will receive every consideration at the appropriate time and I thank him again for the opportunity to outline the current position.

The Seanad adjourned at 8.10 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 27 February 1997.