Martin Daly urges fast-track for Banlasló's Skil Crínefa School
Martin Daly raised concerns in the Dáil about the condition and capacity of Skil Crínefa National School in Banlasló and urged the government to fast-track a replacement build. He said the school serves about 300 children, faces severe fabric problems and is at stage 2B in the Department of Education planning process.
He reported that the school comprises an older building from 1937 and a newer block from 1973, and that on a January visit it was colder inside the school than it was outside the school. Daly said the school cannot take new students, families with means are travelling to other schools, and this is concentrating deprivation in the town centre.
He noted planning difficulties that lasted nearly 22 years have been resolved and that the project is now at stage 2 and stage 2B in the Department of Education's process. The stage 2B status positions the project for further progress within the Department's capital pipeline.
Daly urged the government to look at fast-tracking Skil Crínefa National School given the local circumstances. The Deputy Taoiseach replied that he will raise the matter with the Minister for Education, acknowledged the buildings are old, and said recent capital allocation and the National Development Plan may allow the project to be progressed on an accelerated basis.
The speech highlighted immediate risks to access and equity for pupils in Banlasló if replacement works are delayed, stressing an urgent need to move the school project forward to prevent further concentration of disadvantage and to restore capacity for new students.
School condition and pupil impact
He reported that the school comprises an older building from 1937 and a newer block from 1973, and that on a January visit it was colder inside the school than it was outside the school. Daly said the school cannot take new students, families with means are travelling to other schools, and this is concentrating deprivation in the town centre.
Planning status and history
He noted planning difficulties that lasted nearly 22 years have been resolved and that the project is now at stage 2 and stage 2B in the Department of Education's process. The stage 2B status positions the project for further progress within the Department's capital pipeline.
Appeal to Government and ministerial follow-up
Daly urged the government to look at fast-tracking Skil Crínefa National School given the local circumstances. The Deputy Taoiseach replied that he will raise the matter with the Minister for Education, acknowledged the buildings are old, and said recent capital allocation and the National Development Plan may allow the project to be progressed on an accelerated basis.
Local consequences and urgency
The speech highlighted immediate risks to access and equity for pupils in Banlasló if replacement works are delayed, stressing an urgent need to move the school project forward to prevent further concentration of disadvantage and to restore capacity for new students.
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Transcript
Can I raise the issue of Skil Crínefa National School in Banlasló, which serves one of the most deprived populations in the country. 300 children go there. The older school is 1937, the newer school is 1973. I had occasion to visit there in January. It was colder inside the school than it was outside the school. The difficulty now is we have, they can't take any new students in. People with means who can travel to other schools outside the town are leaving. So we are getting a concentration of deprivation in the centre of Banlasló. And I think we really need to progress the building of the school. They had planning issues for nearly 22 years. They have been resolved. They are at stage 2 planning, stage 2B planning in the Department of Education. And I would urge the government to look at fast tracking Banlasló, Skil Crínefa National School, given the circumstances they find themselves in. Thank you, Deputy Taoiseach. First of all, thank you, Deputy, for raising the issue. And I know you are very focused on increased services and facilities in Banlasló more generally. I will talk to the Minister for Education in respect of Skil Crínefa. Those buildings are clearly old. And if it's at stage 2B, hopefully with the capital allocation that has been given to education this year and through the National Development Plan, that we will be in a position to progress the school on an accelerated basis. I certainly will talk to the Minister on your behalf. Thank you, Tishek. Deputy Roderick O'Gormann.