Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

This matter, unlike the previous Bill, is quite uncomplicated. It concerns Nurney national school in County Carlow. Nurney is a very picturesque village perhaps five or six miles outside Carlow town. It is currently a two-teacher school, and it is in urgent need of a devolved grant. I understand that it applied for such a grant in 2000 and that it has requested an update. In classroom one, which measures 34 sq.m. there are 18 pupils in third to sixth class. In classroom two, which measures 30 sq.m. there are 16 pupils in junior infants to second class. The recommended classroom size is 76 sq.m. meaning that both classes are well below the norm.

What brought that home to the principal in question was his attendance at a course where an inspector from the Department of Education and Science explained what could be done in school. The principal was bemused and asked how it might be done in a tiny school with tiny classrooms. The inspector advised him that he could apply for a devolved grant. It is very clear that the classroom sizes are totally inadequate and that the 34 pupils attending Nurney national school and their families deserve better. As far as I am aware, the devolved grant was specifically designed for schools such as this, allowing works to be carried out quickly to bring them up to scratch and enable teachers and pupils to engage in the modern curriculum at primary level, which requires more space than the current 34 sq.m. and 30 sq.m.

I look forward to the Minister of State's reply. I should perhaps also explain to him that Nurney is a rapidly growing area, with many new houses being built. Unlike many other two-teacher schools, this one is quite confident that it will be able to maintain the numbers on its roll in coming years. It confidently predicts that it will have at least 34 pupils for the next five years, based on current trends.