asked the Minister for Education if she intends to start work on the planned project for Rathlee national school, County Sligo in 1988; and if she will make a statement on the matter in view of the unacceptable conditions there for children and teaching staff.
Written Answers. - County Sligo School.
262.
Because of the pressures on the capital available to my Department for the national schools building programme, I am not in a position at present to authorise the further processing of the planned extension and refurbishing of Rathlee national school, County Sligo. I am, however, asking my Department's professional advisers to examine and make recommendations as to what works, if any, might be carried out in the short term to improve conditions pending provision of the proposed extension.
263.
asked the Minister for Education if it is intended to commence building work on the new national school at Moylough, Tubbercurry, County Sligo in 1988 in view of the fact that: (a) the existing school was built in 1890 and the walls and floors are falling apart; (b) that it is infested with rats to the extent that they regularly attack the lunches of the schoolchildren; (c) that the roof leaks and is beyond repair; (d) that the toilets block regularly freezes over every winter; (e) that ventilation is inadequate since no window may be opened; (f) that the conditions have been condemned by the North Western Health Board; (g) that the project for a new school has been ready to go to tender for the past year; and (h) that the local contribution of £25,000 has been collected.
264.
asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the manager of Moylough national school, Tubbercurry, County Sligo, has been told by her Department that no money will be available for work on the planned new school in 1988, 1989 or in 1990; and if she will make a statement on the matter in view of the grave disquiet that this has caused to the parents of the 93 pupils now attending the old school which was built in 1890 and is now totally unsuited for use as a school building.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 263 and 264 together.
I am aware that the conditions in Moylough national school, County Sligo are unsatisfactory, and I am arranging for my Department's professional advisers to investigate and make recommendations as to what work, if any, might be carried out at the existing school by way of short term improvements to ameliorate conditions there pending the provision of the proposed new school.
Because of the pressures on the capital available to my Department for the national school building programme, I am not in a position to make a financial allocation in 1988 towards the cost of the proposed new school. This information has already been conveyed to the chairman of the school's board of management by an officer of my Department. No decision has yet been made as to the possibility of financial allocation in this case in 1989 or 1990.
265.
asked the Minister for Education if she will make the necessary arrangements in order that St. Brendan's national school, Cartron Point, County Sligo, will be allocated an eighth teacher, in time to start when the school resumes in January 1988, in view of the fact that (a) St. Brendan's is entitled to this teacher through the numbers attending over the required period (b) the undertaking given by her in the recently published action plan (c) that this is a new developing school and now has children in classes of 40 to 44 and (d) that the classroom is available.
266.
asked the Minister for Education if time constraints, holidays or any work on documentation prevents her Department from being in a position to appoint an eighth teacher to St. Brendan's national school, Cartron Point, County Sligo, from January 1988 to which it is entitled on the basis of the numbers over the required period; and if she will take the necessary steps to ensure that it is given a temporary teacher in a provisional capacity who would start work when the school resumes in January 1988, in accordance with the usual practice and procedures in such cases.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 265 and 266 together.
The application of the school authorities for the appointment of an additional teacher at this school is under consideration in my Department and they will be written to as soon as possible.