Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)

Cuirim fáilte arís roimh an Aire. Baineann seo le Scoil Naomh Caitríona in Eachraim, Contae na Gaillimhe, scoil ar thug mé cuairt uirthi an tseachtain seo caite. I raise the issue of St. Catherine's national school in Aughrim, County Galway. This is a small school in a rural area just outside Ballinasloe. The school has been subject to a number of staffing cutbacks in recent years but the main issue is related to the school building. My question for the Minister was whether in his view the school building is fit for purpose.

The teaching staff has reduced from eight to seven and a special needs assistant post has also been lost. One of the pupils is a child with Down's syndrome who is now without a full-time special needs assistant and this has not been fully explained. There is a fear that the school is being slowly run down. I ask the Minister to take account of their concerns in particular with regard to the school building. A recent inspection has taken place but a written report has not as yet been made available. The school building is reasonably old and the original wiring and plumbing are in place. There are three classrooms within the building, one of which provides cramped accommodation and a number of prefabs which are used for resource teaching and support teaching. The school has plenty of land which would be available if an extension or a new school were possible. An extension might be a suitable initial solution. I know from raising other issues on the Adjournment with other Ministers such as the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, that there might be a stimulus package in the near future and this would be an ideal solution for the school.

Heating is provided by storage heaters and the cost is very high so that the school is using a significant portion of its capitation grant to pay for heating. This is the 21st century and the students and teachers in St. Catherine's national school in Aughrim deserve a school fit for purpose. I welcome the Minister of State's thoughts on what can be done for this school.