Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this important matter for discussion on the Adjournment. Sonna is located in the parish of Ballynacarrigy, my own parish, near Mullingar. My wife and her family were educated in Sonna national school which was built in 1953 and caters for a large hinterland, including Slanemore, Mullingar, Walshestown, Monroe, Bunbrosna, Balgarrett and Kildallan.

To illustrate the enormity of the task facing the principal, teachers, board of management and parents' association, the two classes of 23 and 22 children, respectively, are accommodated in classrooms one third of the recommended size. From an environmental and health and safety perspective, this serious overcrowding is not acceptable and must be addressed. Pupil numbers have expanded as junior infants have been accepted on the basis that a new school will be completed on schedule. The school lacks accommodation for resource teachers who visit to assist children with academic difficulties and so forth. The space and facilities they require must be provided. The school must juggle the timetable to accommodate children with special needs. I commend the teachers, principal and everyone else involved for acting to ensure this vital resource facility is available.

Built in 1953, the school needs to be modernised. The building project entails upgrading and refurbishing the old school and constructing a new one with four proper size classrooms, a principal's office, secretarial room, resource room and staff room, which are necessities nowadays. The old building will be modernised to accommodate a small physical education hall and another resource room for teaching children with disabilities. It is important that the school is wheelchair accessible to ensure inclusivity at all levels.

The school was allocated a grant under the devolved schools scheme but withdrew from the scheme in February 2006 because it was not suitable on the grounds that inadequate funds had been provided to construct a new school building. In such a small rural area it is not feasible to ask schools to raise large sums of money to complete projects. In April 2006 the school was notified that it could proceed with the new school building and the Department would fund all but €63,000 of the cost of the work, still a significant sum for a rural school to raise.

In June 2006 the late Fr. Deegan and Mr. Daithí Ó Fiach, the school principal, met officials and the Department's architect to discuss changes needed to satisfy the Department's requirements, given that it was funding the full works. In April 2007 a project manager was appointed to speed up the project, as it was not progressing as quickly as it should. Plans were resubmitted to the Department in June 2007. The school was informed orally by an official in October 2007 that the Department's architect was still unhappy with aspects of the revised drawings and Mr. Ó Fiach was informed that a letter would be sent in due course outlining the areas requiring further attention in order that these could be modified to the satisfaction of the Department. Despite numerous telephone calls being made since October 2007, the school has not received a letter from the Department, as a result of which it has not been able to progress the project. Unless the school is notified of the Department's concerns regarding the revised plans, it cannot advance the project. The principal telephoned the Department and left his contact details but has not been contacted.

The Department has engaged in foot-dragging, obfuscation and procrastination to delay a worthy project. On behalf of the people of the rural area in question which I know well, I will not accept this approach. The parents of the pupils have sent me here to agitate and advocate their cause. The Department has failed to respond to the school authorities. The building project cannot proceed until a response is received. Too many phases are involved in the construction of new schools. A number of visitors from Gainstown are in the Visitors Gallery. Their school was also put through the mill and obstacles were erected when the school authorities were ready to proceed. The same problem occurs across the country. Ministers and Fianna Fáil councillors in County Westmeath have told me I am wrong in this regard. How could I be, given the disgraceful approach being taken?

Where better could one spend money than on the early stages of education? Giving young children entering primary school a happy environment, warm school, adequate space and accommodation and recreational facilities affords them an opportunity to develop. We would reap the benefits of such an approach when pupils progress into second and third level education, the cornerstones of the economy. I call on the Minister to contact the principal and board of management of Sonna national school, address problems which need to be solved and allow the school building project to proceed. The school serves the people of County Westmeath well and I intend to ensure it will continue to do so.

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