I want to highlight the dilapidated and rundown condition of Mean Scoil an Leith-Triuigh, Cloghane, County Kerry. This school is privately owned and was established by the Mulcahy family in 1961, first in Castlegregory and later on the current site at Cloghane in 1963. It established a great reputation for high academic standards over the years and produced top-class students with high achievement rates in both junior and leaving certificate levels.
The school still consists of the same three pre-fabs which were provided in 1973. They are disintegrating at this stage. The toilets are not working properly. The heating system is defective and the electrical works are of major concern to the principal and staff. The school is also infested with rats. At present, 80 students are attending the school, with a staff complement of six teachers. The catchment of the school covers the areas of Cloghane, Brandon and Castlegregory. The Cloghane feeder school is also a Gaelscoil.
There is no question of the pupils of Mean Scoil an Leith-Triuigh being accommodated at the Tralee schools. Tralee is 25 miles away from Cloghane and Brandon. If students had to travel to any of the Tralee schools, they would have to get up at 6.30 a.m. or 7 a.m. and not return until 6.30 p.m. or 7 p.m. There is also no question of attending the schools in Dingle because they would have to use the Connor Pass, which is not accessible for buses at all times during the year. In any event, it is often closed because of icy roads and snow in the winter.
A site has been acquired in Castlegregory for the new school. This new location will extend the catchment area to include Camp and the area westwards towards Annascaul, and will have accommodation for 150 students. It will obviously have all the modern, essential facilities, including a science laboratory, a computer room, etc., one would expect of a proper post-primary school.
It will also be an important community resource. The area of Castlegregory, Cloghane and Brandon is totally under-exploited. I would regard it as the hidden part of Kerry. It has considerable potential for tourism, aquaculture and, in the area of eco-tourism, it was singled out some years ago by the EU for special treatment. The school will act as a catalyst for the development of the area. It will be useful for adult education, computer classes and classes by the local ICA.
I understand there was a report sent recently to the Southern Health Board regarding this school. I am sure it is only a matter of time before it could be closed by the health and safety authority, which has also been informed of the state of the school. In the past week the principal had to keep his hand on the trip-switch in case the electricity would fail.
It is disgraceful in this day and age that students should have to endure this type of envir onment in order to further their studies. It certainly is not lending itself to equality of opportunity. Students who have to pursue their education under these conditions, despite the good results achieved in the past, do not have the same opportunities as students in modern, better equipped schools. There were some problems with the acquisition of land for the school in Castlegregory but these have been overcome. In the 2003 schools building programme issued by the Minister the school was put in band two, with the comment that the pre-tender documents had been received.
I urge the Minister to make a special case for this school. The school will feature on national television and in the national newspapers, if it has not already done so. It sends a sad message about the Department of Education and Science and this country that we can allow education to take place in conditions which are, in essence, not much better than what students experienced in hedge schools.
