Bishop tells Minister he may have to close run-down school

Health Risk:BISHOP OF Killaloe Dr Willie Walsh has told Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe that he may have to close down a primary school with more than 650 pupils.

Bishop Walsh issued the warning in response to a report by the Health Service Executive (HSE) on the condition of the 36-year-old Ennis National School building.

The report stated the school building is "not fit for purpose" and that parents of pupils attending the school "are entitled to feel seriously concerned about the health and welfare of their children".

Last June, parents withdrew their children from the school - which has 18 portakabins - for one day to march in protest at the Minister's failure to give the go-ahead for a new school building.

Now, records released under the Freedom of Information Act show that Dr Walsh, along with other school representatives and Fianna Fáil TD Timmy Dooley, met the Minister for Education in Leinster House at the end of last month to advance the case for a new school.

According to the department's minutes of the meeting, Dr Walsh said that "the recent health and safety inspection of the school had put him in a position where the school might have to be closed".

Dr Walsh is the school's patron and he told Mr O'Keeffe that there was an urgent need for action in Ennis.

He pointed out that there has been no permanent school built in the town since 1984 and that a new school has been planned for 10 years.

The HSE report states that "continued use of this premises as a school, in its present condition is not recommended".

HSE district environmental officer Brendan Mortell states: "Chronically leaking roof, internal manholes leaking sewer gas, cold, damp, smelly classrooms and corridors render the Ennis National School not fit for purpose."

Mr Mortell, in his report, adds: "The possibility of moving the school to a suitable premises, on a temporary basis, should be considered, while awaiting for approval to build a new school at the location donated by Dr Walsh further out the Kilrush Road in Ennis."

Arising from the report, records show that Dr Walsh wrote to Mr O'Keeffe on September 30th to state that "the situation is now extremely serious".

The bishop added: "The delay in the provision of the new school at the Ashline site means in effect that the school will have to continue operating on its present site for some time."

The minutes of the November 26th meeting record that Mr O'Keeffe told Dr Walsh that he was "committed to doing something for the school as soon as the funding situation allowed him to do so".

A handwritten note by a senior department official on the HSE report stated that "it does not add anything to what we already know, other than confirming our own findings on the need to replace this building when funding allows".

The diocese has lodged plans for a new school and a decision on the application is expected early in the New Year. However, it is dependent on funding to proceed.