What is happening in schools across County Kerry is simply not acceptable in 2026. I wish to be clear from the outset that we do not have a minor works problem; we have a systemic underinvestment problem. Nowhere is that clearer than in Scoil Iognáid Rís in Daingean Uí Chúis. The school is located in what is considered to be one of the most affluent towns in the country, yet the conditions in the main boy's national school are, in the words of the principal, "archaic". We are talking about children tripping on broken concrete and sustaining injuries requiring stitches, a basketball court from 1980 that is now unsafe and crumbling, a roof and window structures at risk of collapse, no proper toilets, no corridor, no hall, and no entrance space. There was a situation recently where a stranger was able to walk into the school unchallenged. That is not just outdated, it is dangerous. I am calling for a comprehensive assessment of all primary and secondary school buildings in Kerry to properly identify the scale of refurbishment and modernisation required.

Sentiment score: -0.18