Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to bring the matter of Ballygarvan national school before the Dáil. As the Minister for Education and Science is aware, I have raised this matter with her on two previous occasions. In November of 2007 I asked when the building of a new school would be completed and brought to her attention once again the overcrowded conditions in the existing school. I also asked her to explain what is impeding the progress of the project. In December 2007 I raised the matter of when the Office of the Chief State Solicitor would be instructed to finalise the purchase of the three plots of land and when the construction of the school would commence. Tonight I raise again the urgent matter of Ballygarvan national school and I ask the Minister of State whether the Department's officials have begun the conveyancing and contract process, when this is due to be completed, and when the contracts will be signed so that construction of the new school can commence.

The present school is grossly inadequate to meet the needs of the village population. Inordinate delays have meant that the current school population subsists in prefabricated and dilapidated buildings which breach the Department's guidelines on proper accommodation. I salute the staff who go to work there every day and provide a high-quality education to the children of that area in spite of the problems experienced by the school as a result of the delay in this project.

I wish to quote some of the parents who have corresponded with me on this matter. One parent says: "Our three children attend Ballygarvan National School and of the three, two of them are accommodated in portakabins." Another states:

The issue of a new school has been topical since our oldest child started in school — she is now in fourth class and is educated in a portakabin. I have no reason to believe that she will ever attend the new school as she will be finished primary in two years.

I draw the Minister of State's attention to the following point in particular: "Some two years ago, the books, personal belongings and general contents of one portakabin were removed and burned because evidence of rat infestation was found INSIDE the portakabin and this course of action was deemed necessary as a safety precaution." The removal and burning of coats, schoolbags, books and other school articles because of rats is completely unacceptable in 2008.

Another parent outlines succinctly the difficulties outlined by the school and goes on to say:

We have been told about the legal difficulties in relation to the site but there have been difficulties for the last 10 years. These excuses are not going to help my asthmatic child when he is in a damp cold classroom next year in an obsolete building. Nor does it help children trying to learn in overcrowded classrooms or get some physical exercise in a tiny yard. In any project in my business, I make sure the professionals get on with their job and get the thing progressed. That is surely the Government's job through the Department of Education in the case of this school.

In 1998, Ballygarvan national school started the process of seeking a new school for the area as there was major growth in the community. In 2001, a configuration of three sites was identified. In February 2003, due to a lack of available funding, negotiations for the acquisition of these sites were put on hold and in May 2004 negotiations for the site acquisitions were recommenced. It is now 2008. Ten years after that initial day a community which has grown several fold is still without the basic requirements of what we would call a school. The idea that in this economy ten years down the line the Government believes it is acceptable for the children of the Ballygarvan area, their parents and the teachers who work there to have to go to this school in its current condition on a day-to-day basis is unacceptable.

I look forward to hearing the Minister's response. I hope it is not the general platitudes of the building programme. This evening I want specific answers about this school.

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