I welcome the Minister to the House and thank him for taking the motion dealing with the construction of a community school at Rathkeale, County Limerick. At present there are two schools at second level in Rathkeale, a secondary school, which is run by the Sisters of Mercy, and a vocational school under the VEC. I want to pay a tribute to the Sisters of Mercy for the work they have done in Rathkeale and for the educational facilities they have provided for the community. They are part of our town. I would also like to pay tribute to the work of the vocational school over the past 30 years. It is no secret that this school sets a headline for other schools in the county as regards standard of discipline and the educational levels attained by their pupils. The same is true of Scoil Banríon na nAingil, the Convent of Mercy School; their educational achievements are beyond reproach. It is a further tribute to them that they can obtain those standards with the present facilities.
The areas to be served will extend far beyond the town of Rathkeale and will include areas like Croagh national school, Cappagh national school, Cool-Cappa national school, Kilfinny national school, Ahalin national school, Ballingarry national school, Ballingarry Convent and Granagh national school; Ahalin national school will be shared with Croom and Newcastle West. These schools are included as well as Rathkeale Convent national school and Rathkeale boys' school.
In 1966 the Department of Education suggested that joint facilities should be available to the schools. In 1967 — 23 years ago — the Convent of Mercy bought land to build a voluntary secondary school. The plans were sanctioned, land was purchased and a deposit paid to the builder. At this stage, the Department of Education asked the convent to change its plan on the basis that there were major plans for a school development in Rathkeale. The sisters stopped the project on the understanding that there was to be comprehensive plans for a school in Rathkeale. There was no word from the Department until 1973 when, because of the concern for the inadequate position of the facilities in Rathkeale, the staff of both Scoil Banríon na nAingil and the vocational school wrote to the Department and asked what were their plans. The then Minister said that there was an obvious need for rationalisation in Rathkeale and that a large central school would be built there; this was 1973, 17 years ago.
In 1975, 15 years ago, the Department of Education outlined its policy of amalgamation of such schools. The policy was the correct one for Rathkeale. The amalgamation of the schools would mean a better service for the pupils in that there would be a wider range of subjects available. For example, metal work is available in the vocational school but not in the convent school. Physics is available in the convent school in Rathkeale but not in the vocational school. This is just an example of how the shared approach would help the pupils.
On 29 May 1983 the then Minister decided to authorise the provision of a new community school and to incorporate the vocational and secondary schools. In December 1983 a joint committee was formed comprising the management of both schools, representatives of parents of both schools and the teaching staff of both schools. The objectives were fourfold: to expedite the programme as soon as possible; to ensure a good structure was provided for the school; to ensure that good facilities were available and that the project would be completed as soon as possible.
The committee requested a progress report from the Department at the end of 1984 but no reply was forthcoming. In 1985 a site was identified in the area of the vocational school and negotiations were entered into. The site was purchased. At this time a local company suggested that the Department purchase some of their land at a preferential rate for use as playing fields. The Department failed to do this and I was very disappointed at the time having championed the suggestion.
In 1986 a schedule of accommodation was agreed. A draft plan was finalised in 1988 and everything seemed to be ready. In June 1988 Rathkeale County Council met the Minister for Education and were informed by her that the school was in the top five for construction. In early 1989 the draft was sent back requesting comprehensive changes. This was submitted in early January 1990. All the suggested changes were included in the draft plan so there is no reason this cannot be progressed to the next stage, which is the development of sketch schemes.
In the convent school the classes are held in prefabricated classrooms. There is no permanent school structure. The weather is a big problem with prefabs. On the one hand, great effort is required to heat the prefabs and, on the other hand, it is very difficult to teach in periods of very warm weather. There is a very busy road to the local factory and noise is a problem. The prefabs are very old. Some of them are there since 1960 and cost a lot to maintain. They require replacement. During the Easter holidays £2,000 was spent by the convent to repair the prefabs. I understand that much of this money will be recoverable so the Department, by expediting the decision to build a school, will put an end to money going down the drain which is what patching up the prefabs amounts to. There is worry about storm damage because a lot of the prefabs are now rotten and there was extensive storm damage earlier this year. The prefabs are quite scattered and pupils must cross yards and a main road to go to certain classes. They often get wet in bad weather several times a day and this is totally unacceptable in 1990.
Rathkeale, as the second biggest town in the county, deserves proper educational facilities. Changes in demographic patterns are no excuse for not building a school in Rathkeale. The population in that area is increasing. The population west of the town is decreasing because of emigration and so on. Neither is the drop in birth rate an excuse not to build a school. These excuses have been put forward on a few occasions as reasons for looking again at the situation.
Rathkeale deserves proper educational facilities. There are 450 pupils awaiting the decision of the Minister. When will the Department process the plan to the sketch stage? This is what the people of Rathkeale are waiting for. I am sure, like any efficient organisation, the Department have outlined a timescale to complete this project. I ask the Minister to outline for us the projected completion dates of stage four, which is working drawings for the school, stage five, the bill of quantities and stage six, the tenders. I thank the Minister and look forward to his reply.
