Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I must stress the urgency of this case and the Department must treat it as such. The projections are that the enrolment numbers in the school will surpass 120 in the very near future. The school simply cannot cater for that number. There is not an option to extend the school; as such, the Department must treat the project as a priority and fast-track it. The children of Waterville deserve the same treatment as children in the commuter belt or anywhere else in the country. It is not too much to ask that once every 100 years a community look to have a new school built. It is not the case that there is another school 2 km or 3 km away, there is not another school until one reaches Caherdaniel over Coomakista, 15 km away, or Aghatubrid national school near Caherciveen or Killeenleigh national school. The school serves a huge hinterland and it is not acceptable in this day and age to have children in school in the current conditions. I visited the school on numerous occasions during school hours and the children were packed into one classroom, in particular. They are small children, but when they reach the age of 11 or 12 years, they will be twice the size and the classrooms will not be big enough for them. A serious health and safety issue arises.

I spent a limited amount of time in the past working in the area of special needs. I also worked in an autism unit. There are children in St. Finian's national school with special needs and the environment for them is completely unacceptable. They deserve the same start in life as every other child, but they are not getting it. The standard procedure in the Department for processing the application is not good enough. We need more. The staff room is 4 m X 4 m and inadequate. More space is required. I am also very concerned about the lack of a drop off and collection area. The school gate opens onto the street and there is no place to park safely to drop off and collect children. A site is available. I, therefore, ask that the project be fast-tracked.

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