Parents protest over rat-infested school

PARENTS withdrew their children from classes yesterday and held a protest outside a rat-infested primary school.

More than 60 parents held the protest outside Rahan NS, near Mallow, Co Cork, and vented their anger at the Department of Education’s failure to address the school’s dire conditions, which include rotting Portacabins.

The Rahan NS board of management closed the school last week fearing for the welfare of the 91 pupils.

Principal Jerry Lynch sought the help of pest control experts and brought in builders to patch up Portacabins. The wood was so rotten in some of the Portacabins he claimed he could put his finger through it.

“We feel we have no alternative but to take this drastic action. The rats are crawling over the desks and chairs, and even on the children’s books. This is 2008, not 1908. As parents we are fearful for our children’s health. No employee would put up with working in such conditions,” said parents’ association spokesman Tom O’Grady.

Parents carried placards asking when the Department of Education was going to keep a promise, made as far back as 2001, to build a new school.

Money was even raised locally to purchase an adjoining 3.5 acre site for it.

Mr O’Grady said children would not return to Rahan NS until the Health Service Executive (HSE) had given all the buildings a clean bill of health.

One of the Portacabins is more than 20 years old.

“Pest control experts have come in an laid down bait and traps for the rats. It appears that the rats are gone, but we won’t put the children back until the HSE says it’s safe,” Mr O’Grady said.

He added that parents were ready to intensify their protest, if necessary, and would be carrying out an intensive lobbying campaign aimed at making politicians put pressure on the Department of Education.

Deputy Seán Sherlock said he understood that the building project hadn’t even gone to design stage. “This indicates to me it isn’t even on the priority list. I have no doubt this would never occur in the minister’s own constituency of Dún Laoghaire,” the deputy said.

Members of Cork County Council’s northern division said yesterday that they would write to the Department of Education on the school’s behalf.