John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I was delighted to hear Deputy Hayes speaking about the new contractual arrangements for the provision of much-needed ICT systems in schools. I am sure the Minister of State will agree that the issue I am about to raise is light years behind that.

Carn national school in Gurteen, County Sligo, is a three-teacher school with a current enrolment of 72 pupils. The pupils are crammed into two small classrooms in the old school building and a prefabricated classroom, which houses the infant classes. The condition of the older building is extremely poor - it has old slate roofing and neither the walls nor the ceilings are insulated. The school toilets are damp and run down. The school playground has numerous hazards, such as an old and uneven tarmac surface and broken grates and gullies. It is an appalling set of circumstances. The space in which the school bus and the parents' cars have to be parked when dropping off pupils is extremely limited. This is a cause of huge concern, especially as the school is located beside a T-junction on the primary road between Tubbercurry and Boyle. There are major safety concerns when the school bus and many cars arrive at the start and end of the school day. Carn national school does not even have a staffroom facility. The school office is just four feet wide.

The immediate prospect for the school is that its enrolment is set to increase following the recent announcement by the Minister, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, that the neighbouring Annaghmore national school is to close in June of this year. The board of management of Carn national school has submitted site details, title deeds and Ordnance Survey documentation to confirm that Gurteen parish has donated a suitable site, in an excellent location, for the proposed new school. The education of our children at primary level must be to the fore in the Minister's future policies. In light of the level of economic growth experienced by Ireland over the past decade, it is a shameful indictment of this Government's failure that children in 2010 continue to avail of primary education facilities of a 19th century standard. The Minister for Education and Science has been there. Many young pupils are forced to attend school in third world conditions. That is how bad it is.

Gurteen parish and the school's board of management are clearly willing to proceed with the construction of a new national school. Gurteen parish and Sligo County Council, under its chairman, Mr. Gerry Murray, have spent almost €90,000 on purchasing additional lands for the school site and constructing an access road for the school. Having personally viewed the site, the Minister will be aware of its suitability and familiar with the work and expenditure that have taken place at local level to provide a site. He will appreciate that the site is highly favourable in terms of its proximity to ESB, water, sewerage and ancillary services. The Department of Education and Science has the ball at its feet with regard to this project. The site is in place and the need for this project has clearly been established. Funding is required so the children of Carn national school can have access to a fair and equitable primary education in conditions that are acceptable to teachers, parents and pupils. It is no more than any child deserves. In light of the totally unacceptable conditions at the school and the increase in pupil numbers, it is essential for the Minister to give this project the highest level of priority.

I call on the Minister of State, Deputy Curran, to state when funding will be provided for a new building at Carn national school. I hope he will indicate a timeframe for the construction of this building, which is needed as a matter of the utmost urgency and in the interests of the health and safety of pupils and teachers. I am delighted that the Minister of State is here to deal with this situation. During my 13 years as a Member of this House, I have been all over my constituency and the region. This school is the worst I have ever seen. It is an appalling indictment of the Government that in this day and age, 90 children attend a school that has not received any funding since the 19th century. If a health and safety audit were to be carried out on the school, it would be closed. It is an accident waiting to happen. I have a high regard for the good job that the Minister, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, does in his portfolio. I sincerely hope the Minister of State will give us good news, or some ray of hope, this evening. When will the commitment of the teachers and the community of Gorteen be rewarded?

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