James Bannon (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this item on the Adjournment this evening. There is an urgent need for the Minister for Education and Science to indicate when she will approve the application for a new school in Forgney, Moyvore, Mullingar, County Westmeath, because a replacement for the old wooden flat-roofed army-type structure, which is more than 40 years old, is badly needed. Forgney national school is a small two teacher school at the heart of the community in Forgney, County Longford. Although the postal address is in County Westmeath, this is a Longford school which is under the capable direction of its principal, Mr. Adrian Coughlan.

The school has been forced to operate in an antiquated wooden structure, which is now decaying rapidly, for the past 40 years. It is not a question of whether it should have a new building, but a case of when the new building will be constructed and the prospect of a new school is on the tongues of both the school's pupils and their parents. If anything were to happen to the temporary structure, the school would be forced to copy the hedge schools of old, as no other accommodation is available in the area. The pupils would be at the mercy of the elements and out in the cold.

Forgney is a developing catchment area on the outskirts of Ballymahon. The school is the only primary school in the parish and as such it is a focal point of parish activities. While the area has not been overdeveloped in recent years, it is beginning to attract some development.

Although it is a small school, land has been zoned for housing in the area, which will lead to an increase in the number of school-going children in coming years. One scheme, which is almost completed, is situated on the border of Forgney and Ballymahon and will significantly increase the school-going population which has a projected enrolment of more than 30 pupils by 2010. In general, the school caters for pupils within the catchment area of the parish of Forgney, with a few exceptions. At present, two of the enrolled pupils come from outside the parish. Based on births within the catchment area, enrolment should increase in the next few years, even without the increased numbers generated by people coming into the area.

Forgney is a close knit community, which takes pride in its parish and its parish school. The local football team is a source of great pride and commitment. A strong community spirit has been the driving force of Forgney's success. The local people have worked tirelessly and have vigorously campaigned for a new school building to replace the difficult physical conditions in which Forgney national school has provided an excellent education for the children of the area for many years. These children deserve the Minister of State's support, and I ask her to provide the necessary funding to give them the essential accommodation which this school urgently needs.

At present the school is not located in a prefabricated building. It is an old wooden army-type structure which was built more than 40 years ago. It has begun to decay and as the Minister of State is aware, when a building begins to do so, it can be claimed by the elements in storm conditions, etc. Hence, action is urgently needed and I would appreciate it if the Minister of State could, if possible, arrange to meet a deputation from the school's board of management with regard to prioritising a new school for the area.