Waterford school still in prefab 25 years later [IrishTimes]
- Published: 30 December 2010
A PRIMARY SCHOOL in Co Waterford whose pupils have to take physical education classes outside in “all conditions” because of a lack of facilities is still holding classes in prefabricated buildings 25 years after it opened.
Management of Gaelscoil Philib Barún in Crobally Upper in Tramore wants the Department of Education to replace its prefabs with buildings.
Daithí de Paor, principal at the school, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in October, said: “We’re on the permanent building list with 1,200 other schools and our project is not being progressed.
“We had to do our Christmas plays in makeshift classrooms – walking a half mile to a rented hall, even for rehearsals. And we’ve never done PE inside, even in this weather . . . in all conditions,” Mr de Paor said. “This school has been in situ here for 25 years and this is something that’s quite particular to primary schools around the country,” he added.
He said that earlier this year the school sought a meeting with Minister for Education Mary Coughlan and was told by the Department of Education that it was “premature” to meet with them, though the school has been waiting for facilities for so long.
“We wrote again recently asking for a meeting with the Minister but all we got back was a letter of acknowledgement,” he said.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
