THE manager of a rat infested school in Mayo which was closed on Wednesday has said he is "delighted" the Department of Education has promised to press ahead with plans to build a new school.
But Father Seamus Heverin warned it would take at least 18 months to provide new premises. He called on the Department to clarify interim arrangements for the school's 57 pupils.
The Western Health Board recommended the closure of the primary school at Rathbane, Bofeenaun, Co Mayo, after a dead rat was found in one of the toilets on Monday. The school has suffered from decrepit conditions and rodent infestation for years. Although it was listed for replacement, tenders for the project had not yet been sought.
The local Fine Gael TD and Minister for Tourism and Trade,
Mr Enda Kenny, discussed conditions at the school with the Minister for Education, Ms Breathnach, in Brussels yesterday morning. He said after the meeting that tenders for the new building would be sought immediately and building would proceed "without any further delay".
Mr Kenny said it was "totally unacceptable that children should have to attend school under such drastic conditions in 1996, and I am very happy that at long last the problem is now going to be resolved. I appreciate the efforts that have been made by the Minister for Education to respond now to the situation and I hope to see the new school underway in the very near future."
Father Heverin said he was told by the department that tenders for the new building would be sought next Tuesday. The board of management was seeking temporary accommodation at either a local GAA club or a sports hall, both of which lacked adequate heating.
He said Department officials had undertaken to discuss interim arrangements. So far, however, they were "not very forthcoming" in helping with the cost of alternative accommodation. "It'll be like drawing teeth to get any money out of them," he predicted.