I propose to share my time with Senator Tom Hayes. I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to hear this matter.
Ballytarsna national school is situated on the N8 between Horse and Jockey and Cashel, a very dangerous stretch of road which came to national attention because of a dreadful car accident which occurred there last week. My colleague, Senator Hayes, is familiar with the area. It is in the unusual position of being in the south Tipperary county council area and the constituency of Tipperary North.
I was in Ballytarsna school yesterday. It is a small primary school in a building which is very pleasant, were it not for the dreadful noise outside. It is a small school of only 50 pupils and has been successful in winning several tidy schools contests. The school is situated right on the N8 and despite the fact that the county council has put up double white lines, flashing lights on either side of the school, warning signs and road markings, it is still subject to speeding traffic. Yesterday, as I drove to the school from Horse and Jockey I had to drive a considerable distance past the building in order to find a safe place to turn across the oncoming traffic.
At three o'clock in the afternoon, parents pull in to collect pupils. Only last April a potentially serious incident occurred when an articulated truck veered across the road at about three o'clock in the afternoon. It was only by the grace of God that the truck was not carrying a heavy load and a massacre was avoided.
The parents and teachers in the school are very anxious about this situation. They have been told by a departmental inspector that the school will be relocated but they have not been informed of this officially and in writing. The relocation is unlikely to happen for approximately two years. The file on this matter in the Department needs to be marked urgent and sent up the line as quickly as possible. A safe environment must be created for the 50 pupils of Ballytarsna national school, their families and teachers. I look forward to hearing a positive response from the Minister of State.