Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, to the House and I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing this Adjournment matter. It is very appropriate that the Minister of State is here as he acted as principal in the school involved some time ago. I will not say how long ago.

Abbey national school in Loughrea was built in 1928 and the building essentially remains the same. It has approximately 32 students and the accommodation is inadequate. The school has two rooms and two teachers. It has the additional support of a special needs assistant, resource teacher and other support teachers in the school. While we all accept the idea of integrated education, we must realise that all this takes place in a two-room school. None of the facilities have been improved, other than the provision of new windows, a heating system and a very small extension, mainly to accommodate the boiler, a hand-basin and a few small presses, which could not be regarded as a kitchen or staffroom.

The frustration of the board of management, teaching staff and parents is at an all-time high. As a result of the Department's refusal of permission for a permanent extension, they have asked for prefab accommodation for those requiring one-to-one support teaching. They do not want anything elaborate. Their demands are very modest. I ask the Minister of State, as a former principal of the school, to intercede with the Minister for Education and Science and her Department to have the case for the school re-examined with a view to providing at least emergency accommodation for those children in need of special assistance.

If we were talking about a modern classroom for high-flyers it would be one thing. However, when we are talking about children who are educationally disadvantaged, it is unfair to add to that disadvantage. I hope the Minister of State will be able to respond in a positive way. Any renovations carried out in the past were provided partially by the fundraising endeavours of the parents in a small rural community.

The dampness pours off the walls because of the nature of the building. This happens not only on wet days, but also on ordinary days and is an everyday occurrence. In addition, presses and other obstacles must be placed over holes in the floor so that children will not injure themselves. That is the educational background against which these children are being taught. Were it not for the dedication and commitment of the staff, board of management, parents and all involved, it would be a sorry state.

The parents and board of management do not seek media attention to show the inadequacies of facilities in the school. Clearly they are determined that their children should at least get a reasonable opportunity. I ask the Minister of State to reconsider the matter.

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Senator for raising the matter as it affords me the opportunity to outline to the House the strategy of the Department of Education and Science for capital investment in educational projects and to outline the position regarding the application received by the Department for additional accommodation at Abbey national school, Abbey, Loughrea, County Galway.

Modernising facilities in our 3,200 primary and 750 post-primary schools is not an easy task, given the legacy of decades of underinvestment in this area as well as the need to respond to emerging needs in areas of rapid population growth. Nonetheless since taking office, the Government has shown a sincere determination to improve the condition of our school buildings and ensure the appropriate facilities are in place to enable the implementation of a broad and balanced curriculum. We have progressively increased funding for the schools building and modernisation programme in recent years to achieve our goal, with an aggregate total of almost €2 billion allocated for this purpose since 1998 — the largest investment programme in the history of the State. As evidence of this ongoing commitment there will be 1,300 building and modernisation projects active in our primary and post-primary schools during 2006. Over €490 million is being spent on the primary and post-primary projects throughout the country.

The Schools Building and Modernisation Programme 2006-2010 is underpinned not just by a significant increase in overall funding but also by major improvements in the administration of the funding. Devolving more funding to local level through the summer works scheme and the smaller rural schools scheme will allow schools to move ahead much more quickly with smaller projects while also delivering better value for money.

Abbey national school is a co-educational primary school with a current staffing of a principal plus one mainstream teacher and one shared learning support-resource teacher, and one shared resource teacher. Enrolments at the school have increased in recent years from 25 pupils in 2000 to 32 pupils in September 2005. The school's application for extension and refurbishment is being considered in the context of the Schools Building and Modernisation Programme 2006-2010. Already this year, the Minister for Education and Science has made a number of announcements on the schools building programme for 2006 and will be making further announcements in this regard over the coming months.

As Senator Burke said, I served as principal in the school more than 30 years ago and I am very familiar with the building, which has not changed a great deal during that time. I will certainly raise the matter on his behalf and on behalf of the school community with the Minister, Deputy Hanafin, and the Minister of State, Deputy de Valera. I congratulate Senator Burke and his community on their success in the Tidy Towns competition. I am well aware of the pride of place in Abbey and I congratulate the Senator for that.

I thank the Senator for giving me this opportunity to outline to the House the position regarding Abbey national school and assure the House that this school and all others will be treated in a fair and equitable manner.

Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)
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It has been refused.

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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There might be another round.