Republican News · Thursday 28 February 2002

Shame of sub-standard school buildings

The state of many school buildings was described as "a shame and a disgrace" by Caoimghín Ó Caoláin in the Dáil last week. The Cavan/Monaghan TD was speaking in support a call on the government to radically overhaul the school buildings programme.

Over 850 major primary and post primary school building projects are awaiting sanction to proceed to construction phase in the Department of Education and Science. Many of the schools in question, especially in the primary sector, are dilapidated. Ó Caoláin told the Dáil on 20 February:

"I strongly support the motion's condemnation of the government's failure to manage the school building programme. The General Secretary designate of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, Mr John Carr, has described the primary schools' repair, refurbishment and building programme as 'a complete shambles'. This afternoon, my office was contacted by the principal of a school in County Cavan. It is one of the schools on the INTO's short-list of the worst primary schools in the State in terms of grossly sub-standard accommodation endured both by pupils and teachers. There are 68 pupils. One of the classrooms is a pre-fab for which the school's insurers are now refusing to provide cover. The school's application has been with the Department of Education and Science for the past three years.

"I have deliberately not named the school because it is just one example that is typical of many more throughout not only my constituency but also sadly and regrettably, as many other Deputies have outlined, throughout the jurisdiction. What message does this send to our children when we as a society can construct luxury homes at the top end of the market in unprecedented numbers, hotels on a scale never before seen in this country, and palatial new buildings for financial institutions? Yet, the buildings in which we educate our children are neglected and dilapidated.

"This is a shame and a disgrace. We need radical action now to shake up the entire system of delivering the schools building programme. Even at this late hour, I appeal to the minister to do something in the remaining weeks of this administration. The children of this nation demand and deserve nothing less."