School without proper heating left waiting again for funds

A principal of a Dublin primary school whose students are being taught in damp classes without adequate heating has expressed…

A principal of a Dublin primary school whose students are being taught in damp classes without adequate heating has expressed dismay at not being included on yesterday's list of school building projects.

A total of 89 major projects at primary level were authorised to proceed to tender at construction.

But although St Brigid's Girls National School in Palmerstown originally applied for funding to refurbish its buildings in March 1999, it has yet to be given the go-ahead to update its facilities.

Following its initial application, the school had resubmitted its funding request to comply with Department of Education regulations - leading to a large increase in the cost of the refurbishment.

READ MORE

"We're now teaching a third generation of pupils who do not have any PE hall, a library or even proper toilet facilities," Ms Noeleen Conboy, school principal, said.

"Our two most important and particular problems are the electrical system ... and the heating system, which are both very antiquated." Ms Conboy added that the lack of running water in many of the school's classrooms made it particularly difficult to teach art classes to students.

"I lose sleep at night because of the electrical system in the school. I wonder sometimes will it take a serious accident before something is done?"