I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Moffatt, to the House. I wish to raise the need for the Minister for Education and Science to sanction as a matter of urgency the provision of extra accommodation and the appointment of an extra teacher at Fuerty national school, County Roscommon, roll number 18194P.
I am disappointed the Minister is not present as this is a very important matter and something the manager and board of management have tried to resolve over a period and on which my office has made many representations. The mood of the board of management and parents is not complimentary of the Department. The visit by the inspector in recent weeks was not of benefit in terms of the request lodged with the Department.
I will outline the case briefly. The school has recently reached an enrolment of 82 pupils. It is a small, overcrowded, three teacher school. The general view of the board of management and myself is that it merits a fourth teacher. The division of classes between the three rooms leaves little room for movement. Computers and tele visions compete for space and, in the interests of hygiene, safety and ventilation, an enlarged area is urgently needed in the school.
I will give a breakdown of what these people must endure. There are 31 pupils in the senior room and they have an area of 420 sq. ft. Taking into account the teacher's table and the presses, computer, television trolley and so on, they are left with 355 sq. ft. for 31 pupils plus a teacher. That is surely not acceptable in these times. The middle room has 29 pupils and they also have a space of 355 sq. ft. when the area for the teacher's table and other equipment is discounted. The main infant room, which has 22 pupils, is 400 sq. ft. when the furniture is taken into consideration.
This is unacceptable and the school would clearly benefit from a fourth teacher. It is entitled to one in September 2002, but it clearly needs one now. It would allow the bulging classrooms to be fit into four divisions. The board of management, the principal and the teachers have come forward with a proposal. They have said the 14 junior infants and eight senior infants would make one group of 22. First and second class would have 19 pupils; third and fourth class would also have 19 pupils and the last group would also have 22 pupils. It would be impossible to deal with this situation without a fourth teacher. There is a case for a fourth teacher and that teacher should be put in place now.
The school itself had an increase in pupil numbers of 19% from outside the parish this year. It is a growing area and it now expects to enrol 48 local children in the next four years. The school has done its homework and has an excellent case. The inspector called recently and spoke about two prefabs and classroom and a principal's office sometime in the future. That is of no value and is unacceptable. I wish to make a strong case for this school tonight. I intend to pursue the matter if there is not an adequate response. The matter will remain on the agenda because I have a mandate from the parents and board of management and I will raise this at every opportunity.
The Minister needs to make his officials aware of the situation in the school. The current overcrowded condition would clearly break fire and other regulations. It is not acceptable. I trust there will be some response from the Department. I will not be satisfied if the matter is put on the long finger until 2002 or with being told that there is a large burden on the Department. The simple fact is that Fuerty national school has children in overcrowded conditions where they cannot be taught properly. On their behalf I demand proper treatment and facilities.
