The motion refers to the need for the Minister for Education and Science to expedite approval of the stage 3 submission from the board of management of Ballyfeeney national school, County Roscommon, as the improvements involved are urgently needed. I thank the Cathaoirleach for accepting it. He has a particular interest in the school in question, which is located close to where he resides. As such, he has a good knowledge of the school, its teachers, pupils and parents. He supports the request of the board of management. The local councillor, Eugene Murphy, is also involved with the school. I tabled the motion following receipt of representations from the board of management, teachers, pupils and parents.
Ballyfeeney national school is a rural school in the parish of Kilglass, County Roscommon. It was originally built as a two classroom school to accommodate two teachers and 30 to 40 pupils. Two other schools in the locality, Carrigeen national school and Northyard national school, were subsequently closed and amalgamated with Ballyfeeney national school. As a result of these amalgamations and the larger catchment area, Ballyfeeney national school now has three teachers and approximately 70 pupils.
The amalgamations occurred separately more than 20 years ago. To accommodate the extra pupils and additional teacher a large prefab was provided at that time and located adjacent to the main school building. It was not a new prefab, it had been in use for many years at a school in County Sligo. Teachers, pupils and parents were assured that it was only a temporary arrangement. Parents of pupils attending the schools which were closed were assured that their children would be better off in every respect in the amalgamated school, but this has not proved to be the case.
The prefab brought to Ballyfeeney national school 20 years ago is still in place. Three classes are being accommodated within it. Its condition has to be seen to be believed. When I visited the school last Saturday week I could not believe that such a structure could be used as a classroom for children anywhere in Ireland in the year 2000. It was obvious that it had been repaired on many occasions during the years. It is no longer capable of being repaired. It is being held together by a mass of rotting crumbling timber. It would not pass a health and safety inspection and be capable of withstanding even a moderate storm this winter. It is a danger to teachers and pupils. Is it any wonder that parents and the entire locality are losing their patience with the Department of Education and Science?
The Department of Education and Science has at long last agreed to the carrying out of certain works at the school, but progress is unbelievably slow. The works in question are the provision of an urgently needed general purpose room and two classrooms; the urgent replacement of flat roof and windows; the provision of a hard surface playing area – the playing area currently in use is wet, mucky and has pools of water; and badly needed improvements to the electrical and heating system.
What is being sought is approval by the Department of the stage 3 submission submitted in July. Queries have been raised and clarification sought. These have been dealt with by the school's design team. I appeal to the Minister to approve the submission without further delay. The school can then apply for a fire certificate and prepare tender documents which will have to be submitted to the Department for approval. If they are to be completed by September when the school will reopen after the summer holidays, works will have to commence by Easter.
This is an urgent case. Anybody who has seen the prefab would say that it is inappropriate and unsafe for parents to send their children to it. Certainly, I would find it very difficult to send children of mine to the available accommodation. It is the most unsafe school building I have ever seen. There is an onus on the Department to expedite the approval of the stage 3 submission. On behalf of the board of management, teachers, pupils, parents and everybody concerned, I appeal to the Minister to do so immediately to enable the school to progress to construction stage by Easter.
I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for listening to my submission. I hope he will have good news for us in the near future.
