This matter is of considerable concern to the Sheriff Street community. St. Laurence O'Toole's primary school, Seville Place, has a crèche and a pre-school is located there. The crèche deals with young children from the age of 18 months to three years, while the pre-school deals with pupils from three to five years. The Department of Education and Science proposes to refurbish the primary school, to commence this June, with an expected timescale of 12 months.
Provision is being made for prefabricated buildings in the yard of the primary school while no provision is being made for the pre-school, the crèche or the after school project, which is located in one of the two rooms that were assigned in the earlier days to the current pre-school and crèche facility. Expansion was made in that direction as the numbers diminished.
The primary school needs considerable refurbishment. This should have been done years ago and it should have been made brighter and more attractive. At present it resembles an almost prison-style building and it badly needs upgrading. The problem is that there is no place to locate the pre-school, the crèche or the after school service. That means that almost 100 young children will be deprived of a service if something is not done about it.
What is required is an interim arrangement at least for the school year. The emphasis is on a more holistic approach to education and the provision of funding by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in terms of capital grants for premises. The Department of Education and Science should consider the provision of permanent premises. It should not be left in limbo where it is not known from day to day whether a service will be provided.
What steps is the Department prepared to take to ensure that the children in the crèche, the pre-school and the after school will have a premises and that their parents will be satisfied that they will receive the services, both educational and child care, which they are getting at present? As far as I am aware, no provision has been made in the plans by the Department to address the refurbishment problem. If this is not addressed it will be a matter of concern to the community involved and I have no doubt it will be protested to in the most substantial terms in the Taoiseach's constituency. I hope the Minster has good news to report.