Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this issue. There is an urgent need for a new national school in Kilfinane. Various promises were made since 2001 and there is deep concern that the school was not included in the most recent announcement on schools building projects.

The Department of Education and Science commissioned a feasibility study for the school in 1999 which recommended that a new school be built on a greenfield site. The project has advanced to the tender and construction stage and planning permission was granted in 2007. The existing school still has outside toilets and these have always been a significant cause of concern to parents, guardians and school staff. The board of management and staff continually strive to put measures in place to ensure pupils' safety at all times. It is becoming increasingly difficult to guarantee that safety, particularly in the wake of a sinister event that occurred during the summer. This incident highlighted the vulnerability of pupils when they leave the school buildings to use the toilets and has struck fear in the hearts of parents, guardians and staff. Nothing will allay this fear other than the construction of a new school.

The inadequate conditions of the existing buildings have been well documented to the Department. The building was constructed as a church in the 19th century and remodelled as a school in 1887. The last major refurbishment was undertaken in 1909. The classrooms are cramped, with three measuring only 35 sq. m, and there is no room for sinks. The learning support and resource teacher and the secretary work in cubicles partitioned off the classrooms, which is totally unacceptable. There are no indoor physical education facilities and the high windowsills reduce visibility for teachers and pupils. There are continuous ventilation and heating problems despite the remedial measures taken to address this. The glass and timber partitions between class rooms lead to significant noise interference. The staff room serves also as a store room, principal's office, library and music room. There is cramped yard space and play opportunities are severely restricted for pupils. The high degree of variation within the site results in dangerous drops. There are no parking facilities for staff or parents and no private spaces to make telephone calls, speak to parents privately and so on.

The deputy principal and a member of the board of management had a meeting with the Department in 2004 at which documentation on the proposed housing developments for Kilfinane were presented to officials. Many of these houses have subsequently been built and the first phase of 60 social and affordable houses is under way. The school will not be able to cater for the influx of children these houses will bring.

Despite inadequate working conditions, the staff of the school is totally committed to delivering the revised curriculum in its entirety to pupils. Subjects such as art, science, drama and music, which require modern conveniences and facilities, are not neglected. Physical education activities, however, are limited to outdoors. The constant strain of maintaining a high standard of teaching and learning in inadequate conditions while also being constantly vigilant about children's safety creates a stressful working environment for members of staff and takes its toll on their health.

In November 2007, the Department confirmed that the contractors for the project had been shortlisted. We were informed that the new regulations issued by the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, regarding bills of quantities will not be applied to the project because it was first advertised under the old criteria and it was the policy of the building unit to get approval for both tender and construction at the same time. The building project is ready for tender and construction and the board of management expected it to be included in the latest announcement. There was no mention of it, however, when the Minister for Education and Science ran around last month telling various Deputies which building projects in their constituencies had been approved.

Will there be a further announcement at Easter and will Kilfinane be included in it? It is a simple question and I hope the Minister of State will answer it.

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