Ciarán Cannon (Fine Gael)

St. Catherine's national school at Aughrim near Ballinasloe, County Galway is over 60 years old and comprises three very small classrooms that allow for a distance of only half a metre between children's desks. A little more than one decade ago, there were only three mainstream teachers and 77 pupils in the school. Some ten years later, there are five mainstream teachers, three special needs teachers, two special needs assistants and 117 pupils. With the recent opening of the new M6 route, which serves the general area of Aughrim and Ballinasloe, one could fully expect a significant increase in these numbers in the coming years.

In late 2005, the school was included in the permanent initiative and €300,000 was allocated to provide two new classrooms. Following discussions between the Department's architects and the board of management of the school, it was decided the €300,000 allocation fell short of what was required to address the needs of the school to a significant extent. Then, the Department's officials advised the school to forego that plan and to re-apply for a six classroom school or an extension. A whole school evaluation took place in 2007. The evaluation included the conclusions that classrooms in the main building are very congested, there is a deficit of auxiliary rooms, the staff room is very restricted and storage space poses a major difficulty. Prefabricated units restrict the play area and create a necessity for a high level of supervision at break periods. While the school has a fair sized pitch, there are no indoor games facilities and the board has identified the construction of a new school as its main priority and has entered into communication with the planning and building unit of the Department in this regard.

In 2007, the school planning section determined that the long-term accommodation requirements of St. Catherine's school would require space for a principal, eight mainstream teachers and ancillary staff. It was also determined that a new school would be required rather than simply an extension. The school's patron, Bishop Kirby, has made a site to the rear of the current school available for the purposes of building a new school.

Thankfully, the school now lies at band 1.1, the top of the banding priority list for school buildings. I trust this indication of the Department's intent will finally result in the allocation of resources towards the provision of a new school, which is so badly needed. I await the Minister of State's response with interest.