Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 19 Nov 2003

Vol. 574 No. 5

Adjournment Debate. - School Accommodation.

Mr. R. Bruton

I appreciate the opportunity to raise this issue in the House and hope the Mini ster of State will openly consider it. Scoil Chaitríona is located in Coolock, caters for 300 pupils, and has disadvantaged status. Two pre-fabricated buildings are still in use. One dates from 1973 and the other dates from 1958, which is difficult to believe. People who were educated in these pre-fabs are sending their children to them 30 or 40 years later. These pre-fabs provide core teaching space. Some 51 children are in the double pre-fab every day. Resource teaching, life skills and many other activities take place there.

The frugality of the sisters and the teaching staff meant that they repainted the pre-fabs, replaced windows and tried to keep them up to standard. This extended the life of the pre-fabs, but I am sure the Minister of State realises that they will not last for 42 years. The Minister of State would have to see the pre-fabs to believe their condition, but I am sure he does not have the opportunity to visit them. The roof is sagging and the windows cannot be opened. Rain comes in in five places for which five buckets must be produced while desks and books must be moved. The children must be wrapped up in their overcoats on a cold day. If the wind is blowing from the wrong direction, they must move because the rain comes in at an angle. The curtains are dripping wet most of the time because of rain and condensation.

The school authorities have been campaigning about this for many years. Following particularly intense activity, the Department's architect called to the school and condemned the pre-fabs. However, what seems to have happened – I do not know if it is a misunderstanding in the Department – is that the replacement of the two pre-fabs has been wrapped up with an entirely separate project, namely, the provision of a resource room and library and improved fire and security measures in the school. These measures are needed, but they are not as pressing as the replacement of these two pre-fabs. I understand the Department refers to a section 12, which means replacing temporary buildings with temporary buildings. That is what should happen in this case. However, the Minister in a reply to a constituency colleague indicated that this is wrapped up with another project which he said is at an early stage of architectural development and is frozen, as of now, in the Department pecking order. We need to recognise that we are replacing a sub-standard prefab with a decent one. It does not need an architectural process. It is a matter of replacing one thing with something else. This has already been done with one of the prefabs and there are two remaining.

I appeal to the Minister to use his ministerial discretion, which is clearly there, to recognise that this is not a case that should be left languishing in Department files with lots of other applications for new developments. It should be recognised as an essential replacement of a building that is long past its sell-by date. If the Minister will ensure that this occurs it will be much welcomed by the teaching staff, the pupils and the parents who have been fighting for this for a long time.

Mr. M. Ahern

I am glad Deputy Richard Bruton has given me the opportunity of outlining to the House the current position of the Department of Education and Science on the replacement of two temporary classroom units at Scoil Chaitríona, Coolock. Last January the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Noel Dempsey, published the 2003 capital programme and full details about individual projects are available on his Department's website. Section 12 of the programme sets out details of the provision of temporary accommodation in 2003. As Deputy Bruton mentioned, an official from the Department's technical building unit carried out an inspection and recommended that the three temporary classrooms be replaced. Since then, one of them has been replaced.

The Minister intends to publish details of the 2004 school building programme by early January at the latest. The programme will clarify the progress planned for projects such as Scoil Chaitríona during 2004. I will bring to the attention of the Minister the Deputy's explanation about the apparent mix-up of the projects and ask him to investigate this immediately. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and allowing me to set out the Minister's position to the House.

Mr. J. O'Keeffe

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving me the opportunity to raise the issue of Clonakilty community college. On 24 April 2002 the former Minister for Education and Science wrote to his local colleague in Clonakilty, Deputy Walsh, confirming that he had authorised the appointment of a design team to initiate the architectural planning of an extension. Eighteen months later nothing has happened. From the reply to a parliamentary question on the matter it is clear that the design team was never appointed. It is also clear that the authorisation never existed. This means that essentially, the statement in the letter of 24 April 2002 was a lie, deliberately designed to mislead students, parents, teachers and the people of Clonakilty before the last election. They were told that a much-sought extension to their school would go ahead.

An Ceann Comhairle

I would prefer if the Deputy did not use the word "lie". If he is referring to a particular individual I ask him to withdraw it.

Mr. J. O'Keeffe

I understand how you feel, a Cheann Comhairle, but I am referring to a statement rather than an individual. It is clear that the statement was a lie because even though it was stated in the letter that the design team had been authorised, when I tabled a Dáil question to the Minister he made it clear that no such authorisation had been given. I would prefer if the Minister for Education and Science were here to answer this, but I want to know why that hap pened. What is the explanation for this deception?

What does the Minister have to say about the unanswerable case for a new extension? I do not want the flimflam about new projects and the 2003 budget, and that consideration will be given in 2004. I have seen all that rubbish before. There was a clear commitment to go ahead with this extension. The case for it is undeniable. This school was built for 400 students and there are now almost 600 students in the school – or rather, associated with it, because they cannot fit into it. There is an old premises at the other end of the town which is being used to accommodate students. School children are traipsing over and back through the town of Clonakilty every day. This is a health and safety issue as there is inadequate supervision for this activity and it is dangerous for the children. The local gardaí have expressed serious concern about their safety as they cross the streets of the town, over and back, every day of the school week.

Things are almost as bad for the teachers. Their accommodation was designed for 30 teachers but there are now more than 45. There is no library in the school – the library space has been requisitioned for other purposes. Does the Minister accept that the case is unanswerable?

I bring to the Minister's attention the outstanding reputation of the school, which is able to cope with these difficult and dangerous circumstances and provide an excellent education for its pupils. It has been recognised through the Gaelscoil movement – there are now a number of gaelscoileanna in west Cork – to the extent that a gaelcholáiste unit has been established in the school. It is fully recognised as an outstanding school but has been left in these dreadful circumstances by the Government. I raised the issue with the Minister and he told me he would consider it but that no new architectural design team would be appointed this year. That team was supposed to have been appointed last year.

I feel strongly about what has happened here. It is no wonder there is cynicism about politics when Governments act in this fashion. I want this unfair situation resolved now. I want the extension to go ahead and I want an assurance from the Minister to that effect.

Mr. M. Ahern

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it provides an opportunity for me to outline to the House the current position on the construction of an extension to Clonakilty community college. There are two schools serving the post-primary education needs of Clonakilty centre. These are the Sacred Heart secondary school, which is an all-girls school, and Clonakilty community college, which is co-educational. The community college was formed in 1980 as a result of the amalgamation of the town's vocational school and St. Mary's boys' secondary school. The school operates under the aegis of County Cork VEC. Since September 2001 an all-Irish unit within Clonakilty community college has been operating with provisional recognition from the Department.

The community college was built to cater for 400 pupils. Since then additional accommodation has been provided in permanent and temporary structures at the school to cater for increasing enrolments. The current enrolment in the college is 590. In early 2000, Cork VEC requested that the Department review the accommodation at the school and make capital funding available for refurbishment and an extension. The application was processed taking account of all relevant factors, including enrolment and demographic trends in the area and the projected overall accommodation requirements in the centre. An accommodation brief to cater for a long-term enrolment of 550 was agreed with the school authorities. Allowance was made for appropriate accommodation for the all-Irish unit. The project is one of a number which is awaiting the appointment of a design team.

The Minister for Education and Science intends to publish details of the 2004 school building programme by early January at the latest. The programme will clarify the progress which is planned for projects such as the extension and refurbishment of Clonakilty community college.

Mr. J. O'Keeffe

This is another hand-off. It is not good enough.

The Dáil adjourned at 9.40 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 20 November 2003.