Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this matter for inclusion in the Adjournment debate. Ballintemple national school, which has an enrolment of 214 pupils, is an old school with a rich history. It first opened its doors in 1904. It has an excellent staff under the leadership of its principal, Mr. Denis O'Sullivan. The school receives strong support from the local community and the active parents' association, which supports the school's activities in every way possible. Its catchment area is the parish of Ballintemple. The school operates from two sites. Since 2002, the junior and senior infant classes have been based in portakabins at a site on the Blackrock Road that was provided by the SMA Fathers. The remaining six classes are based in the old school building at Crab Lane, which is the base of the school. The school's lease of the site that is currently occupied by the junior and senior infant classes will expire in May 2010. The school faces a real risk that the lease will not be renewed. I would like to know whether progress can be made with the development of a new school building for the school. It is important to point out that approximately 700 residential units have been built in Ballintemple since 1995. The proposal before the Department of Education and Science involves the development of a new 12-teacher school building at a 1.5 acre site on the Blackrock Road in Cork. While the SMA Fathers have generously offered to provide the site free of charge, the Department would be unwise to assume that the offer will remain in place indefinitely. The Department has deemed that the site in question is appropriate for the construction of a new school building.

It is important to emphasise that there are serious capacity issues at Ballintemple national school at present. I understand that eight local children were turned away this year, unfortunately, because of the lack of capacity at the school. As a single stream school, it can accept just one class of junior infants each year. The demographics of the area, about which I have spoken, mean that this problem will get worse in the years to come. In advance of the 2010-11 school year, some 45 children have already sought a place in the school's single junior infants class of 28 or 30 pupils. That demonstrates the need for the Department to take action in this regard as quickly as possible. The proposed site, which is being made available free of charge, is in an excellent location. There should be no other impediment to the development of this project as quickly as possible. As I have said, the site has been deemed appropriate as the location of the new school building. In September 2007, the Department's school planning section confirmed in writing that the Department, having conducted a technical study of the site, recommended its acquisition for the purpose of developing a new school. It appears that no substantive progress has been made with the project since that time. I ask the Minister for Education and Science to seriously consider the inclusion of Ballintemple national school in the Department's 2010 school capital programme. I understand that an announcement in that regard will be made before Christmas or early in the new year. I appeal to the Minister, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, to make the right decision so that the staff and pupils of the school can have an appropriate environment in which to teach and learn. The children should be allowed to continue their education in what is otherwise a fabulous school environment.

See this speech in context