Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)

Táim an-buíoch don Cheann Comhairle tar éis deis a thabhairt domsa labhairt faoin scoil náisiúnta i gCnoc, Ros Cré, Contae Thiobraid Árann, ag smaoineamh é a oscailt arís.

I am grateful to have the opportunity to raise the issue in relation to the proposal before the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Mary Coughlan, at the moment to reopen Knock national school as a recognised school of status in the charming village of Knock, south east of Roscrea, County Tipperary.

The parish of Kyle and Knock enjoyed the presence of a national school from 1900 until the 2003-04 school year when it was closed because of the rapid decline in numbers in the village and the surrounding areas of Knock. However, the last census has shown an increase of 13% in the local population and as a result there is an urgent need to reopen this lovely building, which is in very good condition. It is a school building that continues to serve the local community as a meeting place, and in recent times acted as a community crècheuntil the service provider saw fit, owing to the increased population to move in 2003 and open a private state-of-the-art building.

The empty building in the little village remains unused despite that in the school year 2011-12 it is envisaged that 32 children will be of school-going age and seeking to attend a school in their local area. Plenty of research has been undertaken by a dedicated parents' committee, which has identified that these 32 children, at least, will have to find a school to attend. Many schools in Roscrea are experiencing over-capacity as it is.

There is a clear and strong case already on the Minister's desk for the reopening of this school, and its closure in 2003-04 is now seen to have been a temporary arrangement because of the decline in numbers. Now the population figures present a strong case for its re-opening and the parents' committee has fund-raised tirelessly to bring the building up to standard. I took the opportunity recently to visit the building and see its condition at first-hand. It is a credit to the local community, with a tarmaced school yard, tennis courts and an impressive stone protective boundary wall. The school lies at the heart of the four roads in the little village of Knock, Roscrea.

It would be a small call on the Minister to give it the status it needs under section 11(4) of the Education Act 1998, whereby recognition may be restored to a school where the Minister sees fit and a patron takes on the responsibility to act in patronage. The Bishop of Killaloe has stated his commitment to repatronise that school, should the Minister see fit to open it. The request is for two teachers to be installed for the school year 2011-12, with 32 pupils ready for attendance and where a very small amount of refurbishment work is required, which could be undertaken by a community employment scheme that would restore the school to a very high standard. This is necessary to restore the laughter, music and games associated with any school yard in a rural village.

I believe this is a very reasonable request. It has been before the Minister for some months, and I am asking that she seriously considers the reopening of the school. We hear a good deal about sustainable rural development. I believe this request is a typical example, where we want to see populations remaining in rural areas. It is compatible with Government policy to see the growth of villages, and the development of hurling and camogie teams as well as all types of activities that are integral to the nature of rural communities.

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