Seanad Éireann debate -
Thursday, 7 Feb 2002

Vol. 169 No. 2

Adjournment Matters. - Schools Building Projects.

Mr. Cosgrave

I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise the subject of the building project at St. Anne's national school in Shankill that has been in the pipeline for some time and is awaiting sanction. It is proposed to add five rooms and it is a small project compared to other school extensions. There will be two classrooms, a library, a room for computers, which is a necessary part of a modern school, and a teachers' room. I visited the school recently and found the teachers had given up their own room. They are now using part of the assembly hall for their breaks and discussions. This is not satisfactory as I am sure the Minister would agree.

The other part of the project is to construct a car park on adjacent land that has been donated to the school to enable children to be set down. The school is off a road near Shankill village called Stonebridge Road. It is a very narrow road and many parents are concerned about the traffic on that road where there are two schools. Given that these young children are aged from four and a half to 11 years, it is not possible to just drop them off and allow them to go in by themselves, as would be the case for secondary pupils. They need to be brought in by parents.

Having spoken to the principal, the secretary of the parents' association, the secretary of the board of management and other parents, it is an issue that concerns many people in the area. At just over €1 million it is a relatively small development. Everything has been agreed but it needs the final go ahead. It seems to be stuck on some desk in the Department and it just needs the final push.

The school is in an area close to which the Minister drives on the way to his constituency. It is a very good school and they would like to start this building, which is overdue. I ask the Minister to be as positive as he can and I hope he can give a commitment that it will be sanctioned.

Minister of State at the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. Byrne)

I am glad the Senator has given me the opportunity of outlining to the House the current position of the Department of Education and Science regarding the provision of improved accommodation at St. Anne's national school, Shankill, County Dublin.

At present, the school has a staffing level of a principal, 18 mainstream classroom teachers, a learning support teacher and a remedial teacher. The enrolment at 30 September 2001 was 520 pupils. The school's current facilities consist of 16 permanent classrooms, a general purpose room and ancillary accommodation.

The allocation for primary buildings in 2002 is €153.6 million, which is a record level of funding and demonstrates the Government's commitment to improving accommodation in primary schools, such as St. Anne's national school, Shankill, under its expanded school building programme. Due to the greatly increased level of activity in the primary buildings area since the Government came into office, there has been a substantial increase in the number of major and minor building projects in construction and this has given rise to a record level of building and refurbishment activity.

A building project for St. Anne's national school, Shankill, is currently in architectural planning. The project will continue to the preparation of tender documents and the invitation of tenders as soon as possible under the expanded building programme. The Department of Education and Science is fully committed to the provision of additional accommodation at St. Anne's national school, Shankill. I have taken on board what the Senator had to say about traffic and the need to have the building work commence as soon as possible. I again thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to outline the current position to the House.

Mr. Cosgrave

I ask the Minister to bring it to the attention of the Minister for Education and Science.

Mr. Byrne

I apologise for the Minister's absence. I certainly will bring this to his attention.