Unlike the last speaker, I will not use this opportunity to take the good name of a Member of the Oireachtas who is not here to defend himself. The Senator was cowardly in the extreme.
Adjournment Matters. - Drimnagh (Dublin) Primary Schools.
On a point of order, I did not name a Member.
I wish to vindicate the good name of the Member mentioned.
The matter I raise may not ordinarily be raised in the Seanad but it is important to the parents of the boys and girls attending the primary schools at Sperrin Road, Drimnagh. The school building, which houses a girls' and a boys' primary school and a junior school at Sperrin Road, was built in the 1950s and several hundred pupils attend this school. It is a large building which also houses a mixed secondary school. Several hundred pupils attend the school.
I visited the school on Monday morning. There are large gaping holes in the roof through which a large amount of water leaks into the school and it badly needs repair. The toilets are out of date and are in an unsanitary condition. While I accept many schools seek funding to update facilities, would the Minister for Education be satisfied if her children attended this school? I suggest she would not. It is deplorable to see such antiquated toilet facilities for young boys and girls and it is not a healthy environment for pupils or teachers.
I am concerned that the water leaking into the building from the roof will destroy the fabric of the building and will lead to wet rot and subsequently dry rot. There are circumstances where urgent applications of funding can be provided. It is in the economic interest of the Department to provide that funding at this stage because if this problem is not resolved, total refurbishment costs will be in excess of what is required now.
Costings for the repair of the roof are in the region of £60,000 to £80,000 and have been agreed with the Department. Other than bureaucracy, what is standing in the way of repairing the roof? I ask for a quick decision and allocation of funds. The summer would be an ideal time to carry out such work when the school is vacant. I hope the school children will not face another winter with rain coming through the roof.
A representative of the INTO inspected the toilets and agreed with parents that their condition is deplorable, unsanitary and unsatisfactory, not only for the children but also for the teachers. I ask that we get through bureaucracy as quickly as possible for the sake of the boys, girls and teachers in the Sperrin Road schools.
I assume the Senator is referring to Our Lady of Good Counsel Primary Schools at Mourne Road, Drimnagh, Dublin 12.
I would like to outline to this House the Department of Education's current position regarding repairs to the roof and the refurbishment of the toilets at the girls' and boys' primary and junior schools at Drimnagh. The Minister for Education is aware that there are three primary schools on the Mourne Road campus. Collectively, they have a staffing of three principals and 28 assistant teachers. The three schools had a combined enrolment of 636 pupils on 30 September 1996.
The three schools are housed in a building on a large campus which also accommodates a secondary school. Originally these primary school building catered for up to 4,000 pupils. In 1994 the Department provided in the region of £250,000 grant-aid towards the cost of a new heating system for the schools. I understand this has added greatly to the comfort of the buildings.
The Department has received an application from the schools for grant-aid towards the cost of various improvement works at the schools, including roof repairs and refurbishment of the toilets. An official from the Department visited the campus recently to see at first hand the conditions at the schools. The officials has reported that the problems with the roof are causing particular concern for the schools' management authorities. It is accepted that the roof of the building needs attention and some refurbishment work will be required to the toilet blocks.
A preliminary cost estimate has been received in respect of the roof repair. Costings are currently being prepared in respect of the work to the toilets. When these costings have been received the project will be considered for grant assistance.
The House will appreciate that a decision on the provision of funding for the proposed works must be taken in the light of existing contractual commitments and the funds available this year. I would like to assure the Senator and the House that every effort will be made by the Department to ensure that the proposed project is progressed as quickly as possible. I thank him again for the opportunity to outline the current position.
The Seanad adjourned at 7.50 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 16 April 1997.