A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit St. Mary’s in Oldtown, which is in my constituency of Dublin Fingal West. I want to begin by sincerely thanking Julie, the principal, for making me feel so welcome. What stood out to me immediately was not just the dedication of the staff but the strength of the entire school community. The teachers, SNAs and the board of management are deeply committed and compassionate and are working tirelessly to support every child under their care. However, it is impossible to ignore the reality in which they are doing this work. The building is over 80 years old and is under immense pressure. Much of the school operates out of outdated temporary accommodation. There are storage heaters instead of proper central heating. There is damp and mould present in classrooms. There are leaks, the floors have holes in places and the temporary building is warped. These issues give rise to real safety concerns. This is not just inconvenient; it is unacceptable. There are 78 children in the school, including 12 in the special autism class. These children, some of whom have additional and complex needs, are learning in conditions that are cramped, cold and not fit for purpose. The facilities available to them do not reflect the care, dignity and support they deserve. This raises a fundamental question about equity. How is it fair that some children in our education system are taught in warm, modern and well-equipped buildings while others are expected to learn in environments that are deteriorating around them? What message does that send? From where I stand, it communicates something deeply troubling: that some school communities are valued less than others. The same applies to the staff. Teachers and SNAs in this school are on the Department’s payroll, just like their colleagues elsewhere. Why should some educators have to work in cold, inadequate conditions, while others do not? Their dedication should be matched with basic standards of safety and comfort. The school is currently at stage 2a of the planning process for a new building, but progress has been slow. In the meantime, the conditions remain the same or worsen. The reality is that delays have real human consequences. They affect children’s learning, well-being and sense of belonging. They affect staff morale and their ability to deliver the high-quality education they are striving to provide. I also want to acknowledge and thank those who have been supporting the school and advocating on its behalf. I am asking for two things. The first is that the Department acknowledge the reality that the accommodation currently being provided at St. Mary’s Oldtown is substandard and not acceptable for any child or staff member. The second is that urgent action be taken. This means progressing the long-delayed building project to the next stage without further delay, and in the interim, providing funding for essential works to address the most immediate issues, such as heating, safety and basic infrastructure in the school. Ultimately, this is about fairness. It is about dignity. It is about ensuring that every child, regardless of where they live, has access to a safe, warm and supportive learning environment. St. Mary’s Oldtown is a school full of potential, care and commitment. It deserves a building that reflects that.

Sentiment score: 0.19

I accept that due diligence needs to be carried out, that everything needs to be ticked off and that the boxes need to be ticked. The year 2028 would mean a long time waiting for the next tranche, so I thank the Minister of State for clarifying that additional projects may be taken on in the interim if the school reaches significant progression within the project stages. In the spirit of moving this on, the school has recently requested a meeting between the Minister, Deputy Naughton, and the board of management. While an agenda was sought by the Minister's office, a meeting has yet to be confirmed. I would strongly urge that this engagement takes place without further delay. I would be happy to invite the Minister, Deputy Naughton, to the school and would be happy to facilitate such a meeting with the school community and board, should that be necessary.

Sentiment score: 0.33