Brendan Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I thank you, a Chathaoirligh, for affording me the time to raise this issue. I propose to share my time with Senator Dooley, by agreement.

Rory Kiely (Fianna Fail)
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Is that agreed? Agreed.

Brendan Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I congratulate the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, on her appointment and wish her every success in the job. I raise the issue of Clonlara national school at which Senator Dooley and I attended a meeting on Thursday last of up to 400 parents and the chairman of the board of management. There is widespread concern with the delay. Some indication was apparently given that the school project would begin last year but that work did not commence and there is fear that it will be put off again this year. The project is at the architectural planning stage. At present over 300 students attend the school and many have classes in the PE hall which is not suitable.

I will not labour the point as I am sure the Minister is already fully aware of the situation. However, I want the school included in the budget for this year and want a beginning to the work. Clonlara is a rapidly expanding area with a large population. The area has many children but the school relies on prefabs and a PE hall for classes. I ask the Minister to use what influence she has to draw the attention of the executors of her office to the urgency of the situation so that action might be taken this year.

Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)
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I thank Senator Daly for sharing his time with me and for showing interest in this project. It is in the east of the county, where I am the only Oireachtas Member. I thank Senator Daly for his attendance at the meeting last week and for his assistance in this regard. I wish to be associated with the congratulations to the Minister. It is great to see her in the House as Minister for Education and Science. She has been with us several times and has shown great respect to the Seanad, for which we are thankful.

As Senator Daly outlined, there is a difficulty with Clonlara national school, particularly in regard to the extension and the fact that a number of classes are being taught in the PE hall, where conditions are cramped, there is no natural light and the situation is unsuitable from a health and safety perspective. Issues arise regarding storage areas and the fact that teachers must disrupt classes to get sports equipment for external play areas. However, the school does a good job in difficult circumstances and tribute should be paid to the principal, Mr. P. J. Fitzpatrick, for his work.

Another health and safety issue concerns the boiler. However, the school authorities are slow to replace it because when the extension is built a larger boiler will be needed and will form part of the overall work. Effectively, the sooner they can go ahead with the extension the sooner they can overcome all the problems that exist. I again thank the Minister and hope she will look with favour on this school when making announcements regarding schools building projects.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Senators Daly and Dooley for raising this issue and for their kind comments. Scoil Seanain Naofa, Clonlara, County Clare, has an enrolment of 301 pupils so I am delighted to hear there were 400 parents at the meeting. It shows a true commitment on the part of families. The school has a staffing level of a principal and 11 mainstream class teachers, one learning support teacher and one resource teacher. Clearly it is a substantial school and the Senator has indicated that the projections are there for the long term as well.

A full design team has been appointed and architectural planning has commenced for a refurbishment and extension project for the school. The project is listed in section 8 of the 2004 schools building programme. Senators will be aware of the various levels through which a project must go before going to final tender. It has been assigned a band 2 rating by my Department. The project is at stage 3 of architectural planning and officials in my Department are currently examining the documentation.

However, I would be very concerned if, as indicated by Senator Dooley, there are fumes emanating from the boiler. I would be concerned in the context of the responsibility of the board of management to ensure the health and safety of the children in its care. Emergency funding is available if needed. Funding is also available under the summer works scheme specifically for such a contingency. I would advise that the board of management should not allow a situation to develop where the children and staff are in any danger from the boiler while awaiting a more permanent building.

All of the projects are being reviewed at the moment, particularly this one, to see how they can be included as part of a multi-annual schools building programme from 2005. My current priority is with the Estimates process with the Minister for Finance where I am trying to get as much money as possible for this important issue. Once I know how much money there will be, I will be in a better position to advise on what will happen regarding this school.