Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

This was laughable. There is a school in my constituency from the 1950s, which most of them are. When one walks in the door there is a stench of urine that would knock one back on one's heels. This is a primary school that deals with children from entry to first class. Work needs to be done on the electrics. There are two prefabs out the back that were intended as temporary accommodation. The porch fell off and almost killed someone. For the past eight years, the school has been told that it may be included next year. Children are desperately trying to learn in overcrowded, appalling conditions. It is not only about class sizes; it is about the awful conditions in which teachers are trying to teach and pupils are trying to learn. The Minister needs to take this on board, start to produce the guidelines on disadvantage in education and fulfil the promise made on class size. I know the Minister has not been in office for the majority of the time but her predecessor was and the same Government was in office. Where are the guidelines? What action will the Minister take?

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