Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)

I was not present, but I was informed of the announcement in several telephone calls. 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 last January. It was indicated to us at Easter but that did not happen either. The Department of Education and Science commissioned a feasibility study for this school as far back as 1999 and recommended that a new school be built on a greenfield site. The project has advanced to tender and construction stage and planning permission was granted in 2007. The existing school still has an outside toilet which has 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 regarding the children. This incident highlighted the vulnerability of pupils when they leave the school buildings to use 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 present 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 m2 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 is no indoor physical education facility and the high windowsills reduce visibility for teachers and pupils. There are continuous ventilation and heating problems despite the remedial works to address this. The glass and timber partitions between classrooms lead to significant noise interference.

I urge the Minister to immediately sign the contract to have this school constructed.

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