Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 2 Dec 1993

Vol. 436 No. 6

Adjournment Debate. - Killenaule (Tipperary) School.

Mrs. T. Ahearn

I must begin by saying that I am delighted the Minister for Education is present here this evening. In fact, I feel optimistic already, because just a few weeks ago, when I raised a problem about Ardfinnan national school, the Minister responded very positively. I take this opportunity to thank the Minister on behalf of everybody involved in that school for the help she has given us.

However, the problems of education in South Tipperary extend in every direction and I am delighted to have the opportunity tonight to raise the urgent need for additional accommodation at Scoil Ruain in Killenaule, an exceptional school which provides an excellent education for the local students in what can be considered a rural area.

The need for additional accommodation in this school is evidence of the high standard and the quality of teaching carried out by the staff. This request for additional accommodation is ongoing since spring 1992. Unfortunately, now that the school is facing what I consider to be a critical overcrowding problem, as yet no commitment has been given by the Department of Education to provide the additional classrooms.

The school was built for 325 students and now caters for 529 students, that is 204 above the number for which the school was originally intended. At this stage it is imperative that we congratulate the principal, Mr. Michael Hassett, the vice-principal, his staff and the board of management for enduring this appalling space shortage for so long.

The future of this school, however, will be impossible, considering that there is a projected increase of 20 in the enrolment for September 1994. As it is the only school within its catchment area, the projected numbers for each year will decrease very slightly between now and the year 2000. As a vocational school teacher, I have a close association with Scoil Ruain. It is a very progressive school and it naturally wishes to provide all the additional educational facilities to its students. It wants to provide a three year leaving certificate cycle and in that regard an additional 60 places will be necessary. I believe the school is justified in wanting to provide PLC and VTOS courses.

I would ask the Minister whether it is fair to ask the students and the staff of Scoil Ruain to endure this overcrowding indefinitely. Is it wise to stifle the enormous commitment and dedication of all involved in education in Scoil Ruain by not giving a commitment to provide these basic facilities, without which every student cannot be assured of a place within the school from this year on? We had hoped that the accommodation would have been provided for September 1993. However, our disappointment has not and will not dampen our determination to ensure that this excellent school gets the recognition and the facilities it deserves from the Department.

I am requesting the Minister, on behalf of the teachers, the students and the huge number of parents who have written to me over the past two weeks, to give a commitment in the House this evening to provide the necessary accommodation for Scoil Ruain for September 1994.

Ms Bhreathnach

I thank the Deputy for putting on record her appreciation and the appreciation of all the community of Ardfinnan and I would say that that issue was probably a good example of partnership in education. The Deputy, my colleague, Deputy Ferris, the Department of Education and, indeed, the parish priest and myself put our heads together and came up with a satisfactory outcome. Of course, this has encouraged the Deputy to come into the House and raise another matter as a result of the quick response to the problems in Ardfinnan.

I wish to put on record what has taken place in Scoil Ruain, Killenaule. Following an application for additional accommodation and an assessment of the school's needs, approval was given to the vocational education committee in July 1992 to proceed with the planning of an extension which was estimated to cost in the region of £135,000. The proposed additional accommodation consists of three general classrooms, one science laboratory, toilets and some circulation area. The architectural planning has been carried out by the vocational education committee's consultants and the tender documentation, which has been received from the vocational education committee and examined by my Department, has been found to be satisfactory, subject to some very minor amendments.

The next stage, therefore, would be the invitation of tenders. However, it has not been possible to include the project in the 1993 building programme because of other commitments and priorities which had to take precedence. As with all such building projects, the placing of a contract and the timing of construction is inevitably dependent on the availability of capital resources. While the necessary resources are not available at present to allow this project to proceed, I am nevertheless aware that the school requires the accommodation urgently. Accordingly, the project will be considered in due course for possible inclusion in the 1994 capital programme in the light of the resources available and the demands on these resources.

I would like to assure the Deputy that I will make every effort to ensure that new accommodation and resources will be provided. I have made no commitments for 1994, but I hope that the Deputy and my party colleague, Deputy Ferris, will convey that to the people of Killenaule. When those figures are available to me I will convey them to the Deputy.

The Dáil adjourned at 5.20 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 7 December 1993.