I visited Edenmore national school on Monday last and I thank you for allowing me to report to the House on the conditions pertaining there. The first classroom I visited was that of Miss Gilsenan. She has 34 pupils this year; next year she will have 38. It measures 4.9 metres by 6.4 metres which is about 30 square metres. The recommended size of classroom for that number of pupils is 55.5 square metres. There is a crack in the wall through which fumes from the boiler outside percolate, giving rise to an unhealthy atmosphere. This room is also beside the boys' toilets and in warm weather smells emanate from that quarter.
Mrs. Murray teaches in the classroom next door where this year there are 37 infants. It is too small for the purpose. Mrs. Murray will have 41 pupils in June.
The principal's room, that of Mr. McGreevy, is next door and he has 35 pupils. The room is too small and the blackboard is in the wrong position. It cannot be seen by the students when there is a glare from the sun. Of the 35 students, 20 are in fifth class and 15 are in sixth class. I believe that mix of numbers is not satisfactory and creates difficulty for the teacher in charge and for the students who are trying to learn.
The next classroom I visited, that in which Miss McCrudden teaches, is a 30 year old prefab. Recently a steel support was put in place to keep the roof in position. The windows are rotten and the room is much too small for 35 pupils. I think we would all agree that prefabs are not suitable accommodation for classrooms. They are supposed to be short term temporary accommodation, yet 30 years later they are still in place.
A remedial teacher was appointed last year on a sharing basis with other schools in the area. Because of the difficulties at Edenmore national school the remedial teacher has to take her class in a small cloakroom.
Teaching conditions are not good in Edenmore national school. I compliment the staff who are doing an excellent job in very difficult conditions. The number of students attending the school is 140, yet there is only one exit for that cohort, which, of course, is in breach of fire safety regulations.
The school is surrounded on two sides by a river. The play area in the yard is small; some of it is hard topped and some grassed. On Monday last the grass part was very mucky and the students were covered in filth and dirt after they had been out for their break. The yard needs to be hard topped. I also checked the toilet area and found it to be inadequate; 74 boys are expected to find space in two bays.
A new teacher has been sanctioned for that school and will take up duty in June. The question being asked in Edenmore is where will she teach. No classroom is available at this stage. I request the Minister this evening to undertake immediately a building programme at this school. Three new classrooms are needed, one to replace the existing prefab, a new classroom for the new teacher who is being appointed and an additional classroom which could be used while renovations are being carried out in the school to bring the present classrooms up to standard size.
Against all the odds I found Edenmore national school to be a happy place. We should not require pupils and teachers to work in conditions which are not conducive to learning and teaching. That is a graphic description of what I found at Edenmore national school on Monday last. I urge the Minister to put matters right without delay.