Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I raise an issue that is affecting primary schools, particularly St. Aidan's National School in Rossinver, County Leitrim. A small school with 37 pupils, it has serious problems with damp and poor-quality windows. The school applied for an emergency works scheme this year but was refused and directed to the summer works scheme. The first question is when will the summer works scheme open. That is one of the issues. The school has teak windows in some parts of the building and old aluminium windows in other parts. There is mould growing on the walls. At the same time, it is getting letters from the Department about grants for photovoltaic solar panels. The management does not see the sense in going down the route of putting photovoltaic solar panels into a building from which the heat is leaking. I am sure the Tánaiste will concur that it would be quite senseless to do so. I know of other schools that are in a similar situation. There needs to be a determination by the Department to ensure our schools are well insulated, secure and have good windows and everything else before we roll out other plans. The other plans certainly need to happen but we must get the basics right first.

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