Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail)
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The issue I raise is the building project at Knockbeg College, a boys' secondary school located approximately three miles from Carlow town and Graiguecullen. Its origins can be traced back to 1793. The school has 30 staff and approximately 420 pupils. In 1991 it was announced that a new school would be built, but 25 years later the project has not started. While I am aware that funding for the project has been provided, having met parents of students at the college, I am calling for the issue to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

I have received a note from a parent in which she paints a picture of the school her two boys attend. It describes an inadequate heating system and very damp walls that are covered in mould and can be seen throughout the school. It states the windows are single glazed, with window frames rotting away and most windows stuffed with paper. Plaster is falling off most of the ceilings and some of the ceilings have fallen down. The note refers to buckets being placed in certain rooms to collect rainwater leaking through the roof. It adds that as a result of these leaks, floors are wet and slippery, making it dangerous for both pupils and staff to walk on them. This has led to many injuries. The sanitary areas are described as being outdated, damp and cold; the locker rooms are a health hazard owing to the wet floors, while rodents have been spotted. In addition, a lack of modern equipment is preventing students from carrying out their scientific experiments. The note describes bannisters on the main stairway as unstable and highly dangerous and refers to extremely cold temperatures in the school throughout the winter months, sometimes not higher than 2° Celsius. This, the note continues, is unfair to both students and staff who have to work and teach in such appalling conditions and the matter needs to be addressed.

I acknowledge that the building project at Knockbeg College has been put out to tender.I realise that. This has been going on for 25 years, but the building is unfit for purpose and is actually unsafe. I ask again today the question which was asked before the funding came through, namely, whether the Minister can give the school some prefabs until the building is up and running. The build is taking place in three stages. As the Minister knows, when a building starts, one is talking a year if not more. This building is unsuitable. It is not right to have students and teachers in conditions like this in schools in 2017. Can the Minister look at providing prefabs in the short term and until the school is built? It is a priority 1 project and the Minister must ensure the funding is provided as soon as possible and that the school is built.

It should be recorded that Knockbeg school is an excellent one with excellent standards. As such, it is sad to see that it has been left for 25 years until it is in such a state of disrepair that it is unfit for purpose. The board of management wants to meet the Minister for Education and Skills next week. As such, I ask now for a pre-meeting. If the Minister of State could come back to me on that, I would really appreciate it. I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to address this issue for me.

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Bruton, asked me to thank Senator Murnane O'Connor for raising this matter as it provides an opportunity to clarify the current position regarding the project for St. Mary's College in Knockbeg, Carlow. I thank the Senator for passing on the list from the parent setting out exactly what the situation is in the school at the moment.

St. Mary's College, Knockbeg, is an all-boys, non-fee-paying, voluntary Catholic secondary school owned by the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin. It is one of the oldest secondary schools in the country, dating back to 1793. The college itself comprises four main buildings, all protected structures, and the current major school building project aims to create an exciting and modern educational facility for the future while preserving the beauty and best qualities of the protected elements from the past. There are inherent design challenges with extending such buildings, but the Minister is pleased to report that this has not overly affected the progression of the project through the various stages of architectural planning. The project entails the construction of an extension to the existing school of approximately 3,350 sq. m., together with associated refurbishment and external works. The project brief looks to extend the four main buildings to create a cloister, thus forming a courtyard to the centre which will act as a focal point for the school. The innovative design includes single-storey, two-storey and three-storey structures incorporating facilities such as a study hall, PE hall, which can also be used for extra curricular activity, and a science laboratory.

The project was announced as part of the five-year construction programme in 2012. The project progressed quickly through the early stages of architectural design, although during stage 2b two replacement consultants had to be appointed which added some months to the completion of that particular process. The Minister has asked me to report that the project is now progressing through stage 3, the tender stage. The board of management of the school is the client for the building project and, as such, is responsible for directing the design team. In October 2016, the board authorised the design team to proceed to tender. The closing date for receipt of tenders was 12 January 2017. The design team is currently preparing a tender report which is due to be submitted to the Department by the middle of February 2017. Subject to no issues arising, it is envisaged that construction will commence in the second quarter of 2017. Once the project is on site, it will take approximately 24 months to carry out the work.

This project will provide school accommodation for up to 450 pupils. Enrolments in September 2016 stood at 423 pupils, which is over 50 pupils more than five years ago. Upon completion in 2019, the lives of these pupils will be enriched by a state-of-the-art learning environment for the future built with a significant nod to the past. As the Senator has requested that I raise the matter with the Minister, Deputy Bruton, I will ask him about the possibility of prefabs on site in advance of completion in 2019. I will also ask him if he can facilitate a pre-meeting with the Senator before the board meets him next week.

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail)
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It is great to see that Knockbeg is getting a new school but the building it is in now is simply unfit. It is a health and safety issue at this stage. The school is simply asking for some prefabs to ensure that nothing happens to any of the students. I believe they sometimes have to go home because there is no heating, which is unacceptable. In those circumstances, I ask the Minister of State to ask the Minister to arrange a meeting with me for next week. I would really appreciate it.