Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, for allowing me to raise this matter on the Adjournment and I thank the Minister of State for coming into the House this evening to reply.
Since the present principal took over at Waterpark College in August 1990, the school has gone from strength to strength. This is due to two factors, first, they way the present incumbent has gone about this task and, second, the explosion in the population of this parish in the city.
Waterpark College is situated in Lower Newtown, on the main Waterford to Dunmore East road. This road has become the busiest road in the southeast over the past number of years, if not in the country. I remember some years ago hearing daily reports on RTE about traffic problems on the Ennis road in Limerick. The problem was so bad it became something of a national joke. Eventually, action was taken to improve matters. For some reason, best known to it, RTE tends to ignore Waterford city when giving traffic reports but if it did not, I am sure the Dunmore road would be mentioned every day and would now attract the same notoriety nationally as the Ennis road did previously.
I mention this roads problem to highlight the additional demands that have arisen in this part of the city on all services, not just educational establishments. The Minister of State may recall that I previously raised the pressing need for additional accommodation at Ballygunner national school which was subsequently sanctioned. That school is in the same parish as Waterpark College. If it is necessary to provide additional accommodation at primary level, it follows there is a need for additional accommodation at secondary level.
Waterpark College is experiencing an accommodation shortfall of critical proportions. At the beginning of the next academic year pupils will have to be refused entry as short-term measures will not be adequate to tackle the scale of the problem being experienced. Arising from sustained enrolment increases, the college must, as a matter of urgency, seek the immediate inclusion in the 1996 Estimates of capital funding in respect of the schedule of accommodation already agreed with the planning and building unit of the Department of Education.
The enrolment for the 1995-96 academic year is 400 approximately. When this is compared to projections submitted in July 1994 it can be seen that the college has exceeded its target enrolment figures a full year ahead of schedule. While, in one way, this is welcome and clear proof that its case merits immediate attention it nevertheless consigns the college which has a proud tradition and an ever increasing enrolment to the severest accommodation shortfall.
The original accommodation capacity was 200, but the college projects an enrolment of 450 approximately. Apart from the accommodation shortfall, this has created administrative problems: teaching difficulties because of the lack of space; problems with storage and catering; a shortage of toilet facilities for teachers; a lack of language facilities; no specialist rooms, such as a computer room, audio-visul room, technology room, lunch room, wet day shelter or social area. There is a derelict prefabricated science laboratory and one outdoor toilet block comprised of six cubicles for 400 pupils.
I am informed that the case made by the college authorities for additional accommodation has already been accepted by officials in the Department. However, the sacrifices made by all connected with the college will amount to nothing unless it is examined at ministerial level as a matter of urgency.
