Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Balla Secondary School has made an application under the grant aid for major capital works. There has been substantial growth in student numbers from 222 six years ago to the current enrolment of 421, with more than 40 staff. Enrolment is expected to increase to more than 500 students. Balla is located eight miles from Castlebar. It is a commuter town from Castlebar, Ballinrobe and Claremorris. The current school building consists of a number of blocks. There is an estate block that was built in the 1800s and is not fit for purpose. A block was built in the 1960s, a block built in the 1980s, a sports hall built in the 1980s, a small extension built in 2007 and an autism spectrum disorder, ASD, two-classroom block currently near completion. The school has never been refurbished. It is based on a 16-acre site. The extension is required to accommodate new art, home economic, technology, construction, woodwork and technical graphic area. This would allow some of the existing accommodation to be refurbished to facilitate a music room and a dining room. There are currently no dining facilities on-site. Also, the existing sports hall has no gym, no toilets and no ladies changing area. It requires an extension to facilitate the leaving certificate physical education curriculum.

Extensive refurbishment is required internally and externally. The essential internal upgrade refurbishment is required to set up a new art, home economic, technical graphic demonstration room and science laboratory. A number of years ago, this school was under a bit of difficulty. A new principal came in and a new board of management. The school will have more than 500 students next year and is in need of a new school extension. Tonight I plead with the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, to go back to his colleague to make sure that the school gets the extension that it needs. Some of these buildings go back to the 1800s. The school has fantastic staff. It is a fantastic school with fantastic teachers. Now with new pupils coming in, the numbers will be over 500 next year. I hope that it will get a good result from the Department and from the Minister as quickly as possible.

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