Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming in to take these questions today. I wish to raise the issue of Greystones community college with her this evening. Greystones community college is a brand new secondary school in Greystones that had its first intake in September. Obviously, all the parents and students were excited about the fact this new school was getting started.

The school was due to was due to share accommodation with Greystones community national school, in a new primary school building that was also meant to open in September. Unfortunately, the Department decided not to open that school in September at the last minute. I believe the announcement was made in early August. The rationale given was that the Department needed to make sure the school was fit to hand over. This was one of the schools built by Western Building Systems. Unfortunately, we now have two schools, namely, the Greystones secondary school and the primary school, Greystones community national school and that were not able to access their new school building.

The Greystones primary school remained in the temporary accommodation in the rugby club where it has been for the past five years. Unfortunately, because the Greystones community college was a brand new school it did not even have a plan B. It did not even have temporary accommodation it could go back to. The principal spent the month of August scrambling around looking for rooms in Greystones where they could house their new school.

Luckily, the tennis club became available for the school and that is where it is at the moment. There are 64 pupils in this secondary school and, as I said, they are in the tennis club in Greystones. While they were fortunate to get this accommodation, it is not suitable as a school. A classroom is being taught in the foyer of the tennis club. One must walk through the shower room to get into the principal's desk because it is in the changing area. If a student wants to move or go to the bathroom, he or she must go through two other classes to walk around the school to get into use it.

It has also had significant impact on the classes that can be provided to these students. The students were particularly keen on getting stuck into woodwork, as many first-year students are, and, unfortunately, even this simple subject is not being provided this year because the accommodation is not suitable. The tennis club is available until October and we are not sure what will happen after that. It is critical, however, that this school is sorted out.

What are the issues with the new building? It was due to be a rapid build. It was meant to be a ten-month programme and years later, it still has not opened its doors. It is sitting there. My understanding is that there have been no visits from Department to see what is wrong with the school. I may be incorrect, but I am hearing locally that no-one has attempted to get into the school. What is the issue with school and when will it open? When will the primary school, Greystones community national school, and the secondary school be able to access that brand new school accommodation? It is important that the Minister's Department expedites this issue and makes sure the solution is provided to this school as soon as possible. After October I really do not know what will happen to them.

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