Kenny: Class in toilet a disgrace

FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny told the Dáil it was “a disgrace” that a school was forced to convert a toilet into a classroom after the Irish Examiner highlighted the situation yesterday.

Mr Kenny raised the plight of Glenville National School, Co Cork, during Leaders’ Questions — when opposition leaders get to grill the Taoiseach.

Glenville was first promised a new building more than 10 years ago, and in 2006, Education Minister Mary Hanafin wrote to the school promising work would begin with “immediate effect”.

But nothing happened, despite teachers and parents raising €50,000 for the project themselves, and the school subsequently converted a toilet into a classroom to make more space.

Yesterday was Mr Ahern’s last time taking Leaders’ Questions, and Mr Kenny told the Taoiseach it should be his greatest regret that he had not managed to solve the problems in the education and health sectors, despite having record resources at his disposal.

Referring to Glenville, Mr Kenny said: “This is not the kind of situation our children should face in 2008, as education is fundamental to the kind of society and country we wish to become.

“Two years ago, the Minister for Happiness [a reference to Ms Hanafin] wrote to the school in question and said work would start with immediate effect. The school raised €50,000 and made the site available, yet is on the front page of today’s Irish Examiner holding classes in a converted toilet. That this should happen in 2008 is a disgrace.”

Mr Ahern said that the Government was spending €4.5 billion a year investing in school buildings.

“I do not know why the school mentioned did not partake in any of the summer works projects or get a position on the capital programme because I do not know every one of the 4,500 school projects,” said the Taoiseach.

“I do know the investment we are putting in and I know the range of projects, which includes the refurbishment of buildings and the construction of new buildings.”

However, Mr Kenny said the school’s plight was indicative of the problems with public service delivery generally. He said 300 people a day were lying on hospital trolleys, while wards were being closed and services stripped.

He queried whether Mr Ahern now regretted the manner in which the Health Service Executive had been established, given its problems since.

Mr Ahern said there had been “unanimous agreement” in the Dáil at the time that the old health board structure needed replacing.

He said there had been huge improvements in the health service during his time in office.