I am very grateful for being given the opportunity to raise this matter in the House tonight on the Adjournment debate. The national school in Ballynacally, County Clare, has for some years suffered the difficulties it is still experiencing. In 1963 the school was a two-roomed school and was built with accommodation and toilet facilities for 64 children. In 1975 two smaller schools were closed and amalgamation meant that enrolment in Ballynacally school increased to 100 children. In 1976 plans were drawn up for better facilities for that school to accommodate greater numbers of students. However, there have been no great improvements since then.
I take this opportunity to put on the record that at present in Ballynacally school 138 children are being accommodated in two permanent schools and two prefabricated rooms. One of the prefabricated rooms is 17 years old and is rapidly deteriorating. The other prefabricated room is nine and a half years old. The toilet and washing facilities at the school are the same as they were 29 years ago, provided to accommodate the initial number of 64 students.
I understand that the environmental health officer has visited the school and has given his report to the Department and, I am sure, to the Mid-Western Health Board. It would be very useful if the Minister himself could examine the position in Ballynacally. I have been in contact with the Minister and with the Department of Education on this matter since 1989. It is felt that the problems experienced are ones that have had to be endured by the teachers and the pupils for much too long now. There should be an immediate improvement. We are not asking for anything that is not justified.
I should like to refer briefly to the main school building. In one room conditions are particularly bad. The present teacher of that classroom is Mrs. O'Dea. The room itself is 77 square feet and has only one window, approximately three square feet. Lighting conditions are completely inadequate. That room is severely overcrowded when in use, and I am assured the room is constantly in use as a remedial facility for the school.
I mentioned toilet facilities earlier. Because of the inadequacy of the toilet facilities there has had to be a ridiculous development. The school authorities have had no choice but to stagger the morning break in order to avoid queues at both the boys' and girls' toilets. As one can imagine, those staggered breaks inevitably lead to further difficulties in relation to crowd control, punctuality, noise disturbance and all of the other problems that would pertain to such movement around the school.
I am not sure that the teachers' room would qualify for that description. At the moment such classification would be a gross exaggeration because the teachers do not have the facilities which they should have. The space that could be referred to as the teachers' room is used for the storage of many school materials, which means that there is very little space for the teachers and very little opportunity for them to have their break in peace and quiet.
I have already mentioned the prefabricated buildings, one of which is more than 17 years old and the other is more than nine years old. The prefabricated buildings are causing a great deal of anxiety and concern not only to the teachers and pupils of the school but also to parents. It is felt that the structure, and particularly the room occupied by the principal of the school, Mr. McCarthy, is a matter of concern, especially in bad winter weather. This matter has to be examined and resolved immediately.
I received a letter from the Department of Education on 29 May 1992, stating that the question of writing tenders at that stage was being considered. I ask the Minister today to ensure that moneys are provided in the 1993 Estimates to fulfil the promise made in 1989 of sanction for the erection of two new classrooms, a staff room and a library medical room. Considering the inconvenience and hassle which teachers, pupils and parents have put up with for some time and their patience in this regard and after 16 years of non-action in regard to this school, the money should be allocated immediately. Surely that is not an unreasonable request. I look to the Minister to make that commitment today.
