Lorraine Higgins (Labour) | Oireachtas source

This is an urgent matter. Scoil Éanna, Bullaun, Loughrea, County Galway is in crisis. The people of Bullaun are desperate for, and have been promised, a new school. It is astonishing to me that, given the severity of their situation, pupils and teachers are forced to endure this entirely unsuitable and highly dangerous situation nine years after being promised a new building. Scoil Éanna is a standard three-classroom school built in 1959 on 0.6 of an acre. As a result of a huge increase in the local population, its enrolment has spiralled from 39 pupils in 2000 to 187 pupils in 2014. This increase in enrolment has necessitated the instalment of four prefabs, two of which are being accommodated outside the school's rear boundary wall and on the generosity and community spirit of several landowners. This situation has understandably tested the goodwill of people in the area, and in addition to the 2012 of the fourth prefab, which was made difficult by persistent rain, fifth and sixth classes have to be taught in the local hall in Bullaun which was built in 1888. This is causing massive disruption to all concerned and impacts on teachers and students alike.

The annual cost of prefab rental is close to €40,000. A fourth prefab was purchased last year for close to €65,000. Given the glaring need for a new school, the community understandably feels this is imprudent and wasteful spending. I agree wholeheartedly. The installation of these prefabs has also placed huge demands on the 1959 percolation system in place at the school. The adjoining land has been badly damaged during the installation of prefab four, which is also an issue. The school's septic tank is absorbing water from the water table and in the past year has been emptied and desludged several times. A recent health and safety audit condemned the system. The school board has applied for emergency works to be carried out on its percolation system and the Department has sanctioned funding. The school community, however, has been unable to proceed with the project because of space restrictions and difficulties with planning permissions. There is literally no space whatsoever to install the system.

In respect of health and safety and the day-to-day well-being of all in the school, this is shameful and must be tackled urgently. I feel very strongly about this because I have brought it up on several occasions in this House and the staff and pupils of Scoil Éanna have entered their ninth year of waiting for a new school, despite all I have said. I commend the generosity of the patron of the school, Bishop John Kirby, who has agreed to make a sizeable site available for construction of a new school in Bullaun, located beside the village car park, which is a very safe location. There have been site engineer evaluations and hydrologist reports for this proposed new site which deem it very suitable. These facts and the escalating difficulties facing Scoil Éanna and the community lead me to ask in the strongest possible terms why work has not commenced on this new school. I urge the Minister of State and the Minister for Education and Skills to swiftly examine the situation as a crisis because children have graduated from Scoil Éanna having spent their entire primary school education in infrastructure that is not fit for purpose.It is horrendous and something no child should have to put up with in the 21st century, particularly in an education system that is supposed as good as the one we talk about in this country.

I commend the principal, Fergal Connaire, for all his work. I also commend the teachers, other members of staff and pupils at Scoil Naomh Éanna as well as the local community for the spirit, endeavours and generosity it has shown and the huge efforts it has made in raising funds over the years. The fruits of all their fund-raising efforts lie in a bank account awaiting the commencement of work on this new school. It is high time the Department of Education and Skills kicked into gear and moved on this matter once and for all because no child or teacher should be forced to learn or work in a school building that is so thoroughly unsuitable and that goes back decades and generations. Students are being taught and are learning in a hall in Bullaun that dates from 1888. I stand with every single person in Bullaun when it comes to this issue and am calling for this issue to be addressed as a matter of urgency. I look forward to hearing the Minister of State's response.