Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this matter for the Adjournment debate. On 7 March 2008, together with other public representatives, I visited St. Joseph's national school, Bonniconlon, County Mayo, to meet the board of management and its chairman, as well as the teachers, parents and pupils, regarding the school's condition. It is not right that parents are obliged to bring their children to such a substandard school, in which a health and safety issue exists. Moreover, it is not right to have teachers trying each day to teach children in a professional manner in such poor conditions. I was highly disappointed that no announcement was made in recent weeks in respect of this school, which has been waiting for a long time for funding from the Department of Education and Science. As long ago as 2000, the school was obliged to raise funds for itself. Although the Department has spent more than €54,000 on architects' fees, to date there is no sign of either the funding or the approval for a new school.

In recent years, the Government had an opportunity to provide such funding when money was plentiful. If the Department does not have the requisite funding and is not prepared to undertake this project, it should try to attract investors who would be prepared to build a school and to do a deal with the Department by selling the school back to it. It is not right to have children, parents or teachers operating in such conditions. I have visited the school. I call on officials from the Department of Education and Science and the Minister to inspect the school. It is not right to have parents and children in such conditions. Given the current economic climate, it is important to stimulate employment in County Mayo and throughout the State. We need this type of investment in our education facilities. As well as providing badly needed school educational facilities, it would help the local community by creating employment. St. Joseph's national school is part of the delivering equality of opportunity in schools, DEIS, programme. Its pupils and teachers are further disadvantaged by the conditions in which they are obliged to learn and work.

I hope the Minister of State will not merely deliver the standard reply from the Department of Education and Science. Instead, I hope there will be an announcement, if not tonight then in the coming weeks, that the construction of this school will be put to tender and the necessary funding provided so that the area will receive the school it has sought for years. It is unacceptable that an area that has suffered disadvantage for many years should not receive its share of the national cake. This community is entitled to a new school.

I ask the Minister of State to present this case to the Minister, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe. It is not the largest school in the State but it is of great importance for the pupils, teachers and local community. The working conditions are unacceptable, the building being rat infested at one time. There is a health and safety issue to be addressed. I call on the Minister and the Government to provide the necessary funding for a new school in Bonniconlon.

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