James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for affording me time to discuss this very important matter, namely, the urgent need for the Minister for Education and Science to provide the essential funding for Melview national school, Melview, County Longford, which has been sought since the mid-1980s. Despite an unacceptable deterioration in the built environment, this school has not received permission to proceed with essential works which are necessary as a health and safety measure and to accommodate pupil numbers.

As I noted, this school has been seeking sanction for improvements since the mid-1980s. Despite permission for similar works being granted to other schools in the area, Melview has failed to receive a similar go ahead. This issue of the inadequacy of the built environment at Melview is one of space and, most importantly, of health and safety. The non-provision of necessary additional classroom space is leading to an ongoing health hazard.

Three of the existing classrooms do not conform to the recommended size and this results in pupils being accommodated in an unhygienic atmosphere. Two of these rooms were never intended or suitable for classrooms but shortage of space means that they have been pressed into service. The general purpose room has been divided into two even smaller classrooms. Costly prefab accommodation and three resource rooms are leaking and unhygienic, with sub-standard toilet and washing facilities for the children. The board of management has received a letter outlining the unsuitability and health risks associated with this prefab. Since January of this year, burst pipes mean the prefab can no longer be used as a classroom. In addition, in what is a major outrage, a class of 26 eight and nine year olds is being accommodated in a staffroom cum kitchen which measures 9 m by 4 m.

As if this were not bad enough, the resource teacher also has to share this limited space. Pupils in this room have to use adult toilet facilities which do not meet the required standards for children of this age. How can the Minister expect children to be safe in these cramped, unhygienic and inadequate-for-purpose conditions? In fact, there are only three toilets in the school for 60 pupils.

As I told the previous Minister on a number of occasions, if children who are forced to receive an education in totally inadequate accommodation due to lack of Government funding should have an accident, the buck stops with the Minister, who is responsible for the safety of children under the care of her Department.

Given that the general purpose room is being utilised as two classrooms, the pupils of Melview have no proper play time or exercise during the major part of the school year. The PE curriculum is curtailed and extra-curricular activities such as a Christmas play and other drama productions are non-existent. Car and bus parking to the front of the school is little more than a standard hard shoulder and is extremely dangerous for pupils being dropped off at or collected from the school. Will it take and accident or even a fatality at this school for the Minister to provide the improvements needed to make Melview a safe and student-friendly environment for the pupils?

The very hard working principal and staff have contacted me on several occasions with regard to the conditions. Parents of children at this school need the reassurance of knowing that funding will be made available and that their children will be safe. I plead with the Minister to provide funding for the safety of the children at this school. It is critical she responds to this Adjournment matter in the interests of public safety. If an accident happens at this school, I will hold the Government and the Minister accountable.

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