We now proceed to statements appropriate to the Minister for Education. At the risk of making myself less popular with my Fine Gael colleagues, I must announce that I have a request from Deputy Jimmy Deenihan. Because he has to travel some distance he has asked me to request the agreement of the House to his promotion from fifth to first place.
Education Matters.
Will that be taken in reverse order?
Does the House so agree?
He wants to get down early for the game against Cork on Sunday.
I am sure he will be very brief.
I will be very brief. Lyracrompane national school has no indoor facilities whatsoever. A general purpose room was approved for the school and was ready to go to tender in 1987 but because of the embargo imposed by the Department of Education on general purposes rooms this facility was not proceeded with. There are no indoor recreational facilities for the children in the school and they have no facilities to put on school concerts or similar activities. In addition, the local community have no community hall. All school and community activities have to be held in nearby villages, the nearest of which is six miles away.
The parents have collected £14,000 and are prepared to give this money to the Department of Education if they will provide this facility. Otherwise they want the Department to give them permission to go ahead and provide this facility in co-operation with FÁS. If the Department cannot provide this facility, can the Minister say if FÁS can get involved in the project?
I have dealt with this matter fully in my reply to the Deputy's questions dated 9 May 1991, and I would refer him to that reply. As the Deputy will be aware from my reply to a parliamentary question from himself and Deputy Spring on 5 June 1991, the school authorities have requested permission to build a community centre/general purposes room on the site at their own expense. This is being considered and a decision will be conveyed at the earliest possible date. I cannot comment on the involvement of FÁS but I would be happy to discuss this matter further with the Deputy. The Department welcome the initiative by the local community and will attempt to respond.
Tá an dá phobalscoil seo tógtha anois le breis agus deich mbliana agus níor críochnaíodh ceachtar acu go fóill. Maidir le pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair tá an cás go dona ar fad. Cé go bhfuil an scoil tógtha ó 1980 níl áiseanna riachtanacha mar halla spóirt ná páirceanna imeartha ar fáil do na daltaí. Bíonn orthu taisteal na mílte go rialta gach seachtain le cluichí a imirt agus corpoideachas a chleachtadh. Faoi láthair tá leabharlann na scoile in úsáid mar ghnáthsheomra ranga agus bíonn ar na daltaí go minic a lón a ithe amuigh sa chearnóg mar nach bhfuil seomra oiriúnach taobh istigh. Cé go bhfuil ardcháil agus ardchaighdeán bainte amach ag pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair, ó thaobh drámaíochta agus ceoil de, níl fiú amháin ardán sa scoil ná halla le cleachtadh a dhéanamh. Tá timpeallacht na scoile garbh, bog, fliuch, agus d'fhéadfá a rá nár críochnaíodh an taobh amuigh den scoil riamh. Tá mé ag iarraidh ar an Roinn Oideachais airgead a chur ar fáil láithreach chun na háiseanna seo a thógáil. Rachadh an halla spóirt chun tairbhe, ní amháin do dhaltaí na pobalscoile, ach freisin dóibh siúd atá ag freastal ar scoil náisiúnta Adhnáin an Luinneáin, is é sin, 510 dalta ar fad idir an dá scoil.
Is scoil lán-Ghaelach í pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair arb í an Ghaeilge teanga labhartha agus teagaisc an ranga. Bhí halla spóirt geallta dóibh agus do phobalscoil na Rosann agus tús le cur leis an obair i 1987, is é sin roimh ré na gciorruithe. Tá leithcheal agus neamart mór déanta ag an Roinn i soláthar na riachtanas seo do phobal fíor-Ghaeltachta. Ba mhaith liom a iarraidh ar an Aire Stáit cinneadh a dhéanamh gan mhoill tús a chur leis an obair. Mar fhocal scoir, ba mhaith liom a iarraidh ar an Aire nó ar an Aire Stáit bualadh le toscaireacht ó bhord bainistíochta phobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair. Sílim go bhfuil iarratas istigh le roinnt míonna agus bheadh siad anbhuíoch dá mbeadh an tAire sásta bualadh le toscaireacht gan mhoill.
Aontaíodh i bprionsabal i 1986 go gcuirfí Halla Corpoideachais ar fáil i bPobal-scoileanna Ghaoth Dobhair agus na Rosann. Tá sé mar aidhm ag an Roinn go fóill áiseanna hallaí spoirt a chur ar fáil do gach iarbhunscoil. Ach braithfidh soláthar na n-áiseanna san ar líon na nacmhainní caipitil a bheidh ar fáil agus ar na ceangail eile a bheidh ar an Roinn maraon leis na tosaíochtaí a bheidh aici.
Eaoi láthair ta an-chuid iarratas tagtha chun na roinne le haghaidh tionscadal togála iarbhunscoileanna. I measc na n-iarratas san tá iarratais le haghaidh coiríochta seomraí ranga atá an-riachtanach agus cuid mhaith iarratas le haghaidh hallaí spoirt.
Níl dóthain acmhainní caipitil ag an Roinn chun na héilimh san go léir a shásamh ar an bpointe. Caithfidh an Roinn na hacmhainní caipitil atá aici a chur ar leataobh chun an chóiríocht seomraí ranga is riachtanaí a chur ar fáil. Faoi láthair, ní féidir leis an Roinn a rá cathain a bheidh sí in ann halla spóirt a chur ar fáil do. Phobalscoileanna Ghaoth Dobhair agus na Rosann.
The problem in this case is the product of success. St. Mary's College, Ballisodare, post-primary centre keeps outgrowing itself. The new school was built to accommodate 270-280 pupils, but each year the numbers increase. In 1983-84 there were 283 pupils in the school, just the right number for the present school building, but the number of pupils has increased to 410 in 1991. The first year enrolment alone for the coming year is 106, bringing the total enrolment to about 438, excluding repeat leaving certificate students.
The reason for this increase in numbers is that in the area, unlike most other parts of the west, there has been a substantial increase in population with many families moving in. For instance, one feeder national school in Carraroe was a two-teacher school not long ago but now it has eight teachers plus the principal. The main reason, however, for the increase in numbers is the outstanding success and reputation St. Mary's College has rightfully gained as a centre of learning and training for second level students. This has been achieved by a dedicated and talented staff working under inferior conditions. Some of the old vacated buildings had to be brought back into use, otherwise students would have to be turned away.
What is needed to cater for the present numbers is four new classrooms, a science laboratory, computer room and assembly room. There is no assembly hall big enough to assemble all the students at the one time. The Minister for Education is very familiar with the position there, and indeed recently opened the extension with her usual style and panache. Sister Bernadette and her staff have a very strong back-up from a parents' association who are ready again to fund-raise so that no students will be turned away from the school of their choice.
As I said at the outset, the problem is the product of success. I know that the Minister will agree that accommodation is needed. An enrolment of 438 pupils in a school built for 270 pupils is not acceptable. The only argument that could be advanced against the request for extra accommodation is that St. Mary's got a new school building only a short time ago, but in the light of the evidence of the roll books this is not a valid argument. I appeal to the Minister to give favourable consideration to the submission made by St. Mary's College.
An application has only recently been received from the school authorities for grant aid towards the provision of additional accommodation at St. Mary's College, Ballisodare. This application is currently being examined in the planning and building unit of my Department. This examination involves an assessment of the precise accommodation needs of the school, taking account of projected short and long term enrolments in the light of declining demographic trends throughout the country and the existing accommodation in the school. As soon as the accommodation requirements of the school have been established, the school authorities will be notified of the Department's decision regarding the application for a grant.
I want to raise with the Minister the dreadful condition of the boys' and girls' central national school in Ballybay, County Monaghan. The school was built in 1975 and today it is rot-infested and ready to fall. The fact that public money was wasted in this way by the Department of Education must be investigated. However, the urgency now is to provide habitable accommodation for the students and teachers when the new term begins in September.
The building was found to be unsuitable for use as a school by the area medical officer in June 1989. A further inspection carried out in May this year found that the condition of the building had further deteriorated. According to the area medical officer, areas of moisture and dampness are visible on all surfaces inside the building. There is a strong smell of mould and decay in all the rooms and a mouldy growth is visible on all the internal walls and ceilings. The atmosphere in the school is unhealthy and I am informed that children suffering from asthma and hay fever should not attend school in the building. Flus and colds flourish in those conditions and parents are concerned about the frequency of sickness among the children.
Discussions have been going on with the Department since January 1986. Why has nothing happened since then? Will the school have to fall down before action is taken? I want the Minister to decide at once whether the school is capable of being repaired and, if so, to immediately set about doing the job. If it is not capable of being repaired, as many people believe, the school will have to be replaced immediately.
I am glad the Deputy has given me the opportunity of making a statement regarding Ballybay boys' and girls' national school in County Monaghan. I have studied the various reports and am fully aware of the position. I share the concern of the school authorities and that of the Deputy regarding the condition of those relatively new buildings. It is relevant, as the Deputy pointed out, that the buildings were erected in 1975. They were designed, erected and supervised by an architect in private practice who was engaged by the school authorities at the time. My Department have been involved in ongoing consultations with the chairperson of the board of management and have given him the necessary advice regarding all aspects of this very difficult case.
I accept generally that remedial works are necessary and my Department's architects have undertaken detailed investigations in the matter. The whole case needs to be further considered in the light of all the circumstances and my Department will communicate with the schools' authorities at the earliest possible date regarding the question of grant assistance.
I also point out that the Minister herself has agreed to meet a deputation on Tuesday next regarding the school and will personally hear the case that has been put forward.
I now call on the patient but perhaps mildly frustrated Deputy Connaughton.
We all have long distances to travel.
Thank you for the opportunity to raise the building of the new primary school at Portumna, County Galway. As the Minister and, both junior Ministers are aware, the welcome news reached Portumna on Monday that approval had been given for a new school. However, only very sketchy details were announced.
The parents, teachers, management board and the general community want to know, as I do, when the school will be built. When will the official letter from the Department of Education reach the manager of the school stating that approval has been given? Within what time frame will the school be completed? Can Portumna expect their new school by 1992? Will this be put in writing? Will the new building be a central school taking in outlying existing schools such as Boula and Gortanumera?
Parents in Portumna are sceptical about promises. They point out that they were promised the school in 1979 if they got a suitable site. The site was obtained but the years just rolled on with no results whatsoever.
For the record, I want the Minister to know that the present girls' national school is a fire hazard, and because it is a two-storey building a fire could cause death or severe injury. The building is damp, the sewerage system is faulty and pupils and teachers should not have to tolerate these conditions any longer. The Ministers answers to my questions will be read with great interest tonight in Portumna.
I should want to give the answers very quickly if they are to be read tonight. I am delighted that the Deputy has brought great urgency to the matter and that he wants the responses to be made available to Portumna tonight. After all, the Deputy has been in the Oireachtas for 14 years, four-and-a-half of those years having been in Government. This evening I studied the file to find out whether any impact had been made during those four-and-a-half years. In fact, there had been very little impact.
The Minister told me that for the first time last week, I believe.
That is correct. It would be fair to say that the school was a little way down on the list of priorities in the past few years, because other schools throughout the county and the country in general were in a worse condition and also, in fairness, because genuine difficulties were encountered with several of the sites that were selected and later found to be unsuitable.
However, I am glad to inform the Deputy tonight that I have approved the provision of a new central school at Portumna that will cater for the amalgamation of the boys' national school and the convent national school. My Department will contact the schools' authorities at an early date preparatory to putting the architectural planning for the project in hand. I fully realise the urgency of the case.
I assure the Deputy that my colleague, Minister Treacy, has asked me to ensure that planning is now carried out and concluded with the utmost haste.
What about Deputy Kitt?
Deputy Kitt also lends his support, but, in fairness, I think that on this occasion Deputy Treacy has been foremost.
A very important development brought about by the Minister for Education, Deputy O'Rourke, is to ensure that when planning for a school starts it also continues and is finished. The Government have gone away from the old business of trying to keep every school in the country on tenterhooks and providing excuses for delays. Planning for this project will now start and will be completed.
When?
It will begin immediately and it will be completed in the shortest possible time——
In 1992?
—— it takes for the various stages of planning to be completed.
Will it be in 1992?
The Deputy knows as well as I do that it is difficult for me to give dates. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. I am very pleased that a decision has finally been made to allow the school to proceed and I assure the House that it will proceed with the utmost haste.
If it is any consolation to Deputy Connaughton, perhaps Deputy Deenihan knew that the good wine was coming at the end.
The Dáil adjourned at 11.35 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 13 June 1991.