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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 30 Oct 1996

Vol. 470 No. 7

Adjournment Debate. - Allen (Kildare) National School.

I thank the Minister for coming in for this debate. On 23 February 1996, a traffic survey was conducted outside Allen national school between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and it revealed that 1,506 vehicles passed the school. That might not be earth shattering, but the traffic travelled through the school which paints a different picture. A regional road divides Allen national school. The junior classes are one side and the rest on the other. The school is situated close to a Roadstone quarry which creates enormous traffic problems as well as health problems for the children as they journey to and from school.

In the late 1970s the case for a new school was first put by the people of Allen. There were certain difficulties in the early stages and successive Ministers refused to provide the finances to allow the school to go ahead. There were planning permission problems also which were overcome recently. At a recent meeting with the Minister the delegation told her about the difficulties it had, particularly with planning permission. Planning permission has now been granted and parents, pupils and teachers want the Minister to give the green light for the provision of the school. There are serious health and safety problems for the children because of the school's location and the accommodation in the school. The area medical officer's report on the school raised a number of concerns.

It is not ideal that the junior school should be located on the opposite side of the road to the senior school. Junior schoolchildren have no shelter on wet days and no supply of drinking water which is essential for young children. It is virtually impossible to prevent them drinking from an unsuitable supply and this poses a risk to them. The senior school, both building and grounds, is deficient in many ways. The toilets are inadequate and the floors when wet create a dangerous, slippy arena. There is no indoor supply of drinking water and this poses the same risk to these children as has been highlighted in the junior school and it is almost impossible to prevent children drinking from an unsuitable supply. One would expect a hot supply for handwashing and this is not available. The heating system continues to fail. It is no longer cost effective to spend money on maintenance there. The sewerage system is overloaded. It would appear that because of uneven sloping yard surface, surface water flows into the system and during recent flooding raw sewage was about to flow freely but for the intervention of school staff.

Teachers in the school have given many years of dedicated, conscientious instruction to the pupils and have been working from rapidly deteriorating conditions. They have lived in silence for too long but the parents have had enough. The Minister is presently drawing up her list for capital expenditure next year and I call on her to ensure money is provided for a new school in Allen. A better case can hardly be made anywhere else in Ireland.

I am glad the Deputy has given me the opportunity of outlining to this House the current position regarding Allen national school and I thank him for his words of encouragement. The school has a staffing level of principal plus five assistant teachers, one shared remedial teacher and one resource teacher. The school's enrolment was 188 pupils on 30 September 1996. A building project at the school was included in the Department's 1994 capital building programme. The inclusion of the project in the programme enables the project to progress through the architectural planning process.

The school is currently located on a split site. The main building consists of two permanent classrooms and a prefab. There are three prefabs on another site across the road from the main building and it is planned to construct the new school on this site. The plans provide for the construction of four classrooms, a GP room and ancillary accommodation. The school will continue to use three prefabs as classrooms.

The current position on the project at Allen school is that all the planning work has been completed and the contract documentation is ready. The Deputy will appreciate that a decision on the timing of the tender process must be taken in the light of contractual commitments for 1997 and the funds which will be available in 1997. Both these matters are under consideration. I expect this process will be finalised shortly and I would then hope to take a decision on the tender process for this school. I confirm that the planning process is finished. Now is the time to put the case for Allen school on to the list for funding and I assure the Deputy and the other Deputies and Senators in the area who have been in touch that every effort will be made to ensure the project is progressed at the earliest opportunity. I thank him again for the pleasant way in which he put his case.

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