Lack of sites ‘delaying schools’

THE construction of 200 schools has been delayed because of a shortage of suitable sites, a lobby group claimed yesterday.

Richie Cotter, chairman of Tuismitheóiri/Teagascóiri Le Chéile (TLC) has called on Education Minister Mary Hanafin to list the schools for which her department plans to buy sites this year.

Mr Cotter, who is principal teacher at St Anne’s national school in Shankill, Co Dublin, suggested Ms Hanafin should cap the price of sites for new schools, to prevent land developers inflating prices. He said a shortage of sites was delaying the department’s building programme.

He challenged the minister to ensure - as her six-year plan envisaged - no child would be educated in a prefabricated classroom after the school year 2009/10.

“We wish for a swift resolution to the outstanding accommodation problems for those thousands of primary school pupils and teachers who still find themselves in sub-standard conditions,” said Mr Cotter.

Ms Hanafin said she would be announcing, over the next few weeks, the small and rural schools that would be given funding to build on extra classrooms or extensions.

“I will also be announcing within the next few weeks the ones that will be moving through the building programme. So the next three phases are almost ready to roll out, as promised,” she said.