Seanad debates
Thursday, 7 November 2002
Adjournment Matters. - Schools Building Projects.
Jim Higgins (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach for choosing this item for discussion on the Adjournment. I join previous speakers in welcoming the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Browne, and congratulate him on his return to office after a brief aberration. It is good to see him back again.
Scoil Croí Íosa, Ballyhaunis, County Mayo is probably the best model of integration in Ireland. It consists of 246 students, of which 53 come from 12 different nationalities. There is also a high proportion of Traveller children. The people of Ballyhaunis are very proud that, at a time when xenophobia seems to be sweeping the country and there is a frightening outbreak of racism, we have such a merger of so many different cultures within a small community, and that all are working in mutual respect with each other. That is the reason there is gross disappointment in the local community that the new amalgamated primary school, Scoil Croí Íosa, has not been afforded the accommodation it deserves.
The school is an amalgamation of St. Mary's primary school and St. Joseph's primary school. However, instead of being on one campus, the amalgamated school is on split campuses. The junior school is located in a building over 100 years old with many steps and stairs. This flies in the face of the recommendations, provisions and requirements of the Health and Safety Authority not to have children of four, five and six years of age in such accommodation. The two schools are a quarter of a mile apart and the situation is totally unsatisfactory. There are 246 students and 18 teachers, yet the principal does not have an office as it has to be used for class hall provision.
Amalgamations can often be long, tedious and tortuous, but, in this case, the school serves as a model because the amalgamation was voluntary and the process concluded within six months. Therefore, there was a legitimate expectation that, having merged so successfully in such a short period, the application to the Department of Education and Science would receive favourable consideration.
I received a letter from the Minister for Education and Science two weeks ago in which he stated that, for financial reasons, the Department would not be in a position to start architectural planning for a major building project at Scoil Croí Íosa in the foreseeable future. Allowing for financial constraints, one would imagine that at least the architectural planning would be allowed to go ahead. However, it will be light years before this becomes a reality because to move from approval for planning through the five relevant stages is a process that takes years.
The project is urgently needed. The school requires two additional classrooms, eight rooms for resource teachers, a general purpose room, a computer room, a principal's office, a storage area, a music room and facilities for special needs children. For the Minister for Education and Science to send out a letter essentially saying that, for the foreseeable future and financial reasons, architectural planning cannot go ahead is totally unacceptable. It flies in the face of the assertions by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance that what we are witnessing across the public sector are mere adjustments. This is a blatant and unjustified cutback. I plead with the Minister of State to bring to the attention of his colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, the urgent needs of this school.
The school sees itself as a special case. It is a model of integration and co-operation and one that can be held up as an example to other communities where there is xenophobia and paranoia regarding the presence of non-nationals. The school demonstrates that it is possible to have a merger of identities and ethnic backgrounds, and to have children playing, working, being educated and living together. I ask the Minister of State to bring this urgent and special case to the attention of his colleague and amend the decision taken by the Department that even architectural planning cannot go ahead. It is surely possible, notwithstanding the state of the public finances, to at least allow planning to go ahead in order that, when finance comes on stream, the school can be seen for what it is – an urgent priority.
John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Senator Higgins for raising the issue and his kind words. He was one of the better contributors in the other House and will be equally vocal and valuable to this House. I read recently that he was thinking of heading for Europe to which perhaps his position here is a stepping stone. I am glad that he has given me the opportunity of outlining to the House the current position regarding the provision of improved accommodation at Scoil Croí Íosa, Ballyhaunis, County Mayo.
The school has a staffing level of principal, nine mainstream class teachers, one remedial teacher, one shared resource teacher based at the school, one special additional assistant, three resource teachers for Travellers, two temporary assistants for non-national pupils and a concessionary post. The enrolment at 30 September 2002 was 246 pupils.
The Department of Education and Science has received an application from the management authorities of the school for grant assistance towards the provision of improved accommodation. The Department has an extensive primary school building programme under way. This includes about 400 major building projects in architectural planning, details of which are available on the Department's website.
Decisions on additional projects proceeding to architectural planning are taken in the light of the annual allocation for capital projects, the financial commitments to be met and the priority to be afforded to individual projects. The programme for 2002 is in place and the schools concerned have been notified.
The allocation for primary school buildings in 2002 is €172.6 million. Following the completion of the Estimates process, the Minister for Education and Science intends to frame a further programme of works and the needs of Scoil Croí Íosa will be considered at that time. In the meantime, it is the responsibility of the board of management to ensure essential health and safety issues at the school are attended to. It should, therefore, continue to use the devolved grant for minor works. If the cost of any works of an emergency nature exceeds the amount available under the devolved grant, it may apply to the Department's building unit for additional grant aid.