Seanad debates

Thursday, 26 October 2017

Commencement Matters

Schools Building Projects Status

10:30 am

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Clifford-Lee for sharing her time. I raised this issue on the Order of Business yesterday. This situation is intolerable for the children and the teachers. I will not reiterate Senator Clifford-Lee's words which so clearly outlined the problems. Yesterday, I visited the school after I left here. The portacabins or prefabs are in a desperate state. They have been repaired, patched up and repainted numerous times. As Senator Clifford-Lee has pointed out, we know exactly how many people will come from Sts. Peter and Paul junior national school as it is a feeder school for St. Molaga's senior national school. On top of that, there is already a waiting list. Balbriggan is an area that will grow further so we need this school. The building project has been left on the long finger since 2000. The portacabins were erected as temporary structures in anticipation of a new school.

I had a discussion with the school principal, Ms Pauline Costello, yesterday. I learned that the school has contacted the Department of Education and Skills and been informed that despite the fact that the school is on the building list for 2019-21, no imminent action is anticipated. Therefore, no design team will be put in place and there no possibility that planning permission will be sought. I hope that the project will be addressed in a speedy and aggressive fashion.

Yesterday, I stood at the entrance of the school. In one corner of the entrance, which is a drafty area every time the door is opened, two special needs children were being taught by a teacher. The location is utterly unsatisfactory. The other corner of the entrance is supposed to house the quiet area and sensory room. That cannot be provided in such circumstances. There is also an open site with no security.

We welcome the reduction in the pupil-teacher ratio and new changes in terms of special needs. All of that is to nought in St. Molaga's national school as it cannot cope with what it has. The school has not got the facilities to deliver the excellence that the teachers are capable of delivering and want to deliver. The teachers want to give our children who are our future the best possible start in life.

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