Frustrated parents call for action on school move
But while it was spacious enough in the beginning, classes of more than 30 are now being taught in rooms fit for just 20 pupils.
Parents have been lobbying the Department of Education to purchase a nearby site designated by Dublin City Council for a school, but fear their words are falling on deaf ears.
Anne Kinsella, whose daughter Sinéad is in first class, believes there should be no excuse for the department not to proceed.
“The site is in public ownership and it would probably save a lot of money rather than continue renting for another eight years,” she said.
“It is a pity that the first pupils who started in the school will leave this summer without ever having had a proper building,” Ms Kinsella said.
The amount being spent on the current premises, including three prefab classrooms, is unknown but is estimated at several hundred thousand euro since the school first opened.
Principal Sandra Ní Gharabháin said the 210 pupils, staff and parents are understandably frustrated at the delays in getting a purpose-built school.
“We’ve been fortunate enough to have these facilities in the early days but we need to get into more suitable premises. The sixth class has just 19 pupils but we have more than 30 in most classes below fourth,” she said.
The demand for places is such that the principal believes they could provide three junior infant classes next September. But the space limitations mean they will only be in a position to enrol 30 new pupils.
“We also face a difficulty providing for any children who have a physical disability because the classrooms are on the second storey of the building and there are no ramps for the prefabs,” Ms Ní Gharabháin said.
A Department of Education spokesperson said the Office of Public Works is looking at a site for the school in the area. But no details of the site in question were available because of commercial sensitivities.
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