Dempsey issues schools funding threat

EDUCATION MINISTER Noel Dempsey said yesterday that schools from which parents withdrew their children in protest at run-down conditions would be punished by not getting any funding priority.

Mr Dempsey yesterday accused such parents of punishing their children in a bid to influence Department of Education priorities. Launching details of next year’s school building programme, Mr Dempsey raised the issue of Gortahork National School in Donegal, where parents have withdrawn their children from classes because of a rat-infested playground and E.coli levels from a sewage problem.

Parents of the 119 pupils at the 74-year-old school stepped up their campaign to highlight problems at the school eight days ago by withdrawing their children Mr Dempsey said he wanted to send out a clear message that he was not prepared to tolerate the parents’ behaviour. Gortahork, which does not feature on next year’s building list, would not receive any priority until the pupils go back to school, he said.

“There will be no further consideration of that project until the kids are back in school,” said Mr Dempsey, accusing the parents of engaging in a “little circus” which “cared little for the interests of children”.

“The problem is a serious problem, a matter for the county council. It’s not easily resolved and it won’t be resolved by taking kids out of school.”

Asked whether he was punishing schools for going public, Mr Dempsey said: “I’m definitely not considering a school where the kids have been taken out. If you want to call that punishment, you can.”

However, the parents said last night they had no choice but to keep their children at home rather than face risk of contracting disease at school.

“It’s so bad that when the tide comes in, the sea water travels up the pipes and into the yard. I can’t understand how the minister can make these statements. I’m sure he wouldn’t allow his children to school in these conditions,” said Vincent Collum. Labour Party education spokesperson Jan O’Sullivan criticised the Government for omitting some of the worst schools, including Gortahork, from the building programme.

“Noel Dempsey never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity. Whilst he and his Fianna Fáil and PD colleagues in government spin that they are building new schools and improving conditions in schools in their constituencies, the reality for children, staff and parents across the country is very different,” she said.