I wish to thank the Ceann Comhairle for affording me the opportunity of raising this important — and potentially explosive — issue tonight. Given the seriousness of the problem, I regret that the Minister is unable to be present.
The problem in regard to education in River Valley is like a broken record, it goes on and on. However, the parents of the area, an estate with nearly 2,000 houses, do not appreciate this record, particularly as the lessons of the past never seem to be learned or heeded by those in authority.
The need for additional classrooms was established in early 1989, it clearly defined a need for eight additional classrooms up to 1993. On the basis of this information an application was submitted by the board of management of the school to the Department in October 1989. In a reply received from the Minister in June 1990 — one year ago — she confirmed to me that, in the circumstances, she had approved the provision of four standard classrooms and that these would be available as a matter of urgency. A year has now passed and there does not seem to be any urgency.
In March 1991 — about nine months later — the plans were eventually handed over by her Department to the board of management to enable them to seek planning permission. These are the bones of the history of the application to date. At the moment there are 220 new applications for admission to the school in September next. If the four classrooms are not available the school can only accommodate 70 children, leaving no places for 150. Even if these classrooms are available — and I hope the Minister can confirm that they will — only 175 of the 220 children can be admitted. This is a scandalous situation; it is not as if the information had not been available to the Department to provide the facilities at this location.
The education of the children in this estate has been disturbed on an ongoing basis over the years, indeed when different Governments were in office. We witnessed the experiment of a dual day system which had such a disastrous effect on children, teachers and parents. These children at present are being educated in overcrowded conditions. They also do not have a library as this most important educational resource is being used as a classroom. The parents have been very constrained in regard to this issue.
On behalf of the parents and children of the area, I ask the Minister to guarantee that these places will be available for the children next September. I ask him, furthermore, to state categorically what type of accommodation will be available. When will the new building commence and what is the projected finishing date? Given the plight of the children in the area and the history of the problem, I ask the Minister and the Department to give this matter priority. He should also acknowledge that there is a further need for additional accommodation in 1992. We should get our act together and cater for the needs of the children of that area. I hope the Minister of State will tonight give the commitment sought by the parents and teachers.
