I take this opportunity to appeal to the Minister for Education for an immediate decision to approve the necessary funding to allow work commence on the urgently required extension for Loreto secondary school in Balbriggan which has served the town for more than 140 years. The children of the area, those from Dublin and north Meath have benefited from the efforts of the nuns and the loyal teachers.
In 1983 a new school was opened which was planned to accommodate 500 pupils. Through the years the teachers have offered high quality progressive education for girls in the north Dublin-Meath area. They introduced such initiatives as a transition year for all, technology, computer studies and two continental languages. Their excellent examination results are testimony to the dedication and commitment of the teaching staff, which now comprises 55 teachers, including those with higher diplomas and part-time staff, and four nuns from the Loreto Order who still serve the community. Very good results have been achieved by the students. My daughter was educated in that school. The families of the students educated there, particularly those of the present students, need the support of the Government.
The school built for 500 students today accommodates 930 and they face a number of serious difficulties. There are only three science areas for five science teachers and only one home economics kitchen for three home economics teachers. Consequently, science and home economics are regularly taught in classrooms and portacabins. There is a curtailment of art facilities, technology facilities, a serious lack of toilet facilities and it is impossible to introduce necessary initiatives such as leaving certificate vocational programmes.
The quality of the school surroundings must be of the highest standard as students have only one chance of second level education. Experience has shown that the students have teachers of the highest quality, but they also need proper facilities. The value of that school is shown by the fact that parents have chosen to send 930 students to the school, which was built for 500. They deserve the Government's support.
A board meeting is to be held on 8 October at which the architect will advise and, hopefully, the board will appoint a builder. The position is at the pre-selective process. I ask the Minister of State to give a commitment in the House this evening that he is prepared immediately to sanction the necessary funds to allow work commence on this badly needed extension, which would relieve the anxiety of parents, students, teachers and the community at large in north County Dublin.
