I thank the Minister for taking my question which calls on the Minister for Education to provide an extension to Illistrim national school outside Letterkenny. Naomh Fiachra national school, roll no. 12077, has been seeking the provision of additional accommodation to accommodate the possible appointment of a fourth assistant teacher to the school. At present, the school houses 128 pupils in a four teacher school. Over the past eight years, the school has seen a steady increase in pupil numbers from just over 70 in 1989 to the present figure of 128; the figure is expected to rise in the coming years. The school was bitterly disappointed with the letter it received recently from the primary school building section of the Department of Education on 14 February which stated that there was no commitment to improve the educational facilities at Illistrim national school. The department planning section recently advised that, although the enrolment in the school has risen over the past eight years, long-term accommodation requirements at the school will be four permanent classrooms.
I do not think this is acceptable for a school which is making the effort to look after the interests of its pupils. I am annoyed to note that, in the letter from the primary building section, it indicated to the school that if there was a shortage of space a GP room could be used in an emergency to house the additional teacher. However, the school was not interested in losing its GP room for any length of time. When I visited the school recently, the use being made of the GP room would not allow this to happen, nor do I believe it should be allowed to happen. The room is currently being used for physical education, music, drama and concerts. The school has a strong musical tradition; the fifth and sixth classes recently competed in the Le Crunch national final in the Olympia theatre in Dublin. It would be very difficult to promote drama and all the other activities provided in the GP room if it were to be used as another classroom. The school is committed to providing the highest level of education facilities in order that children can develop to their full potential. In the light of the present situation, it feels that an extension to the school is the proper way forward. It has a site for an extra classroom to be added to the school and we would definitely get value for the money spent on an extra classroom if this matter were addressed in this year's capital programme.
Over the past eight years the numbers at the school have continued to grow steadily. Letterkenny has been described as being one of the fastest growing towns in Europe. Planning permission has been granted for in the region of 200 houses in the catchment area of Illistrim national school so the numbers will continue to grow in that area. The board of management of the school are not interested in allowing the PE hall to be used as a classroom and they feel that the long-term accommodation should be at least six permanent classrooms. People are interested in keeping their children in their own area. It is a growing area and I ask the Minister to include Naomh Fiachra national school in this year's capital programme.
