Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

This matter concerns the need for the Minister for Education and Science to indicate when funding will be approved for Craughwell national school in County Galway. The school has applied for additional accommodation for a number of years. This is a classic example of the failure of the planning section of the Department of Education and Science to plan to respond to the needs of an area, particularly growth centres such as Craughwell. In 2002-03, some 156 students were enrolled in the school. Since then intake has grown constantly, which is unusual for a rural school. The normal intake of 20 to 25 has increased to 35 to 40 for each of the past few years. The response of the Department of Education and Science has been to provide prefabricated accommodation as needed. This is a waste of money, despite the sanction and approval of a school extension of six to eight classrooms. There is an increase of some 25 students annually because the outflow from the school at sixth class will be approximately 25 and the intake will be more than 40. It will probably increase because this area is one of great development, with new waterworks and a new sewerage scheme. It is a target area for growth.

The local community, including parents, the board of management and staff, has raised considerable funds to keep the school up to a reasonable standard of accommodation for children in the area. They had to do so in order to provide reasonable facilities in the school. The level of overcrowding is beyond belief. The children with special needs share overcrowded, poor accommodation. A general purpose room is used as a classroom and is totally inadequate for its current purpose. An extension of six or seven classrooms is required, as well as a general purpose room.

I hope the Minister of State can indicate hope for this area by providing adequate facilities as is the entitlement of these children. Many schools have been upgraded and have been provided with additional accommodation but Craughwell has been provided with only prefabricated rooms on an annual basis, after a long struggle. This is totally inadequate and unsuitable. The Government's response to education in the west is poor if Craughwell must make do with prefabricated buildings while other schools are provided with proper structures. This is a poor response to the efforts of the community, the parents, and the board of management, who have provided funds on every occasion they have been asked to make up the Government shortfall.

The Minister of State should indicate the situation with regard to funding for this school.