This matter relates to the Christian Brothers national school in New Ross in County Wexford. Before the last local and general elections, funds were promised by Government candidates for the development of a new school building. The original school building is still in use, but I am not sure how old it is. I was in contact recently with a number of teachers at the school who told me there is a serious possibility that the windows could fall in on top of students over the winter months. People who are familiar with New Ross know that it lies on the banks of the River Barrow. I would like to know if the Department has made any progress towards providing a new building for the Christian Brothers' national school in New Ross.
Adjournment Matter. - School Accommodation.
I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with an opportunity to outline to the House, on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, the current position on the construction of a new school building for the Christian Brothers national school in New Ross in County Wexford.
In 2001, the board of management of the Christian Brothers school in New Ross submitted an application to the Department of Education and Science for additional accommodation and the upgrading of existing accommodation. This application was referred to the Department's planning section to determine the school's enrolment trends. Since the enrolment trends at both primary and post-primary schools in the New Ross area generally were declining, the Department of Education and Science initiated a review of the educational provision in the area. In view of the extent of this review, Dr. Tom McCarthy was appointed as a facilitator to consult with the local providers and to identify the key issues in primary and post-primary school provision in the area. His report is currently under consideration in the Department and his recommendations will assist in finalising the optimum strategy for educational provision in New Ross into the future.
The Minister does not, however, intend to move unilaterally on this matter. The scale of change potentially involved means that it is right and proper that all the schools' trustees are consulted and that discussions should also involve both Kilkenny County Council and New Ross Urban District Council. Discussions with the latter parties, in particular, are necessary to ensure the greatest possible clarity regarding demographic changes and housing formation in the area that will inevitably impact on educational provision. While discussions have already taken place with both the trustees and the local authority officials, further dialogue is necessary before finalising the likely future shape of educational provision in New Ross.
Consistent with normal practice, the Department will not proceed with capital funding at any school in the area pending finalisation of the optimum strategy for the area. Consequently, a decision on the construction of a new school building for the Christian Brothers' school in New Ross will not be taken until such time as all the necessary discussions have been finalised. I heard the Senator's comments about the school's windows. The school's authority should, as appropriate, use its devolved grant to deal with any urgent health and safety works that may arise at the school.
I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to discuss this matter which relates to the Holy Family national school in Tubbercurry, County Sligo. There are six classrooms in the school, one of which is divided in two. It has ten teachers and five classroom assistants. There are also part-time teachers who teach in the school at different times. There are ten special needs children in the school who do not have any accommodation. Their classes are taught in the hallway. There are six non-nationals and 12 Travellers on the register. There is a total of 131 children at the school. The school is 55% disadvantaged.
I spoke to the principal this morning and she told me they have been looking for a new school since 1972. It is currently at stage six planning in the Department. They were at that stage in 1985, so I do not know what has happened since then. I cannot explain in detail the problems in this school. Some days there are 17 staff, but there is only one staff toilet. These people are working in very confined conditions. The INTO has taken an interest in this school and is one of the issues over which its members might go on strike because of the length of time the school has had these problems and the conditions in which some of the children are being taught. They are using cloakrooms as classrooms. I ask the Minister to use his good offices to ensure that this school, whose conditions must be among the worst in the country for staff and students, receives the attention it needs early in the new year.
I thank Senator Scanlon for raising this matter. He explained that the school in question applied for a new building in 1972, that in 1985 the project was at its current stage in the school building programme and that the school has six classrooms, 131 children, some of whom have various problems, and 15 staff. I am glad to have an opportunity of outlining to the House the current position of the Department of Education and Science on the allocation of funding for school building projects in general.
The 2003 school building programme is on the Department's website and is designed to give the maximum amount of information concerning the school's capital investment programme to managers, boards of management, principals, parents, students and all other interested parties. The criteria used for selecting projects were also published for the first time. I am sure the Senator and the school management are aware of this. The large-scale building project for Holy Family national school, Tubbercurry, is listed in section 6 of the 2003 school building programme. This project is at stage 4-5, or pre-tender documentation stage, of architectural planning.
The budgetary allocation for 2004 and subsequent years will determine the rate of progression to tender and construction of these projects, including the school in question, in conjunction with the band rating individually assigned. I understand, however, that in view of the conditions that pertain at the school it is being given urgent priority. Management authorities at individual schools should continue to use funds from their devolved grant to deal with any urgent health and safety matters.
I thank the Minister of State.
The Seanad adjourned at 3.45 p.m. sine die.