Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The reopening of schools across the country has been a nervous time for parents, pupils and the staff in schools. Covid-19 has brought many challenges to schools, which have a responsibility to protect both staff and pupils by providing a safe environment for all in school. Without diminishing the problems faced by other schools, I will refer to one school that has faced a particular challenge in reopening.

I recently corresponded with both the Minister and officials in the Department of Education and Skills about Gaelscoil Uí Earcáin in Finglas, raising a number of issues it faced both in reopening and its day-to-day function. Gaelscoil Uí Earcáin is a coeducational all-Irish school founded in 2005 on a temporary site in west Finglas. In 2008 the Gaelscoil moved to its now permanent site on the former De La Salle boys' national school site on Glasanaon Road in Finglas east. It now has almost 350 pupils and 30 members of staff. It is a DEIS band 1 school. I recently met the school principal, toured the Gaelscoil and saw its facilities. It was clear to me that the Gaelscoil faced unique challenges as it worked to reopen, some of which I will outline today.

As it is located in a former boys' national school but now caters for both boys and girls, the design and layout of the school building raises a number of a practical challenges in the current environment. The boys' and girls' toilets are at opposite ends of the building, making it particularly challenging for a teacher to accompany both boys and girls to the toilet at the same time. The Gaelscoil has structured teachers and pupils into pods but there are insufficient sinks and toilets in the school to meet the daily demand of pupils and staff while maintaining the integrity of the pods, even with a tight timetable implemented to try to facilitate everybody.

The Gaelscoil has reasonably sought to place hand-washing facilities in each classroom in order that teachers can know for certain that pupils have washed their hands after using the toilet.

Good hand-washing practice is essential to preventing the spread of the virus during this pandemic. Proper ventilation is also essential to preventing the spread of respiratory infections and of Covid-19. During my visit to the Gaelscoil I found that 14 classrooms lacked the ventilation that would allow sufficient proper air circulation to prevent the spread of the virus. Opening the archaic windows in some classrooms was very difficult. They are beyond repair and in need of replacement. The Gaelscoil has received two minor works grants totalling a mere €23,728. This is clearly not sufficient for the installation of the necessary sinks, vents, hand dryers, screens and so on. An additional €30,000 will be needed to carry out these essential repairs. The Gaelscoil has a very committed and motivated staff who are providing a real service to the development, growth and continuation of the Irish language in Dublin.

Tá Gaelscoil Uí Earcáin ar cheann de na scéalta rathúla i bhfás na Gaeilge i mBaile Átha Cliath. Chinntigh blianta d'obair chrua agus de thiomantas na foirne agus an phobail áitiúil é seo. Molaim don Aire smaoineamh ar na ceisteanna atá ardaithe agam agus an maoiniú riachtanach a sholáthar chun go mbeifear in ann bearta a chur i bhfeidhm.

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