‘This cannot continue’ - Carlow schoolchildren being taught in ‘overcrowded’ classrooms

Schoolchildren in County Carlow are being taught in overcrowded classrooms amid a ‘deeply frustrating” situation, the Dáil has heard.

Carlow-Kilkenny Fianna Fáil TD Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere raised the issue during a recent ‘Other Members’ Questions’ session.

Deputy Cleere said: “In Carlow-Kilkenny, the reality facing students, parents and school staff is very different from the picture that is often presented by the Government.

“We are seeing steady population growth, more young families and increasing demand for school places, but the delivery of school buildings is simply not keeping pace.

“Across the country, and specifically in my constituency, schools are relying on prefabs that were meant to be temporary but have now become long-term fixtures.

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“Children are being taught in overcrowded classrooms with limited facilities, while projects that have been announced or approved are taking years to materialise.”

He continued by outlining the frustration this is causing for schools, teachers and parents.

“This is deeply frustrating for school communities. Boards of management, principals and parents are doing everything asked of them.

“They are engaging with the Department, progressing designs and identifying sites, yet they are left waiting, sometimes for years, with no clear timeline for delivery. All of this is happening at a time when the State is in a very strong financial position.

“The question has to be asked as to why, when the resources are available, we are still seeing such delays in delivering essential school infrastructure in places like Carlow and Kilkenny. This cannot continue.

“Temporary accommodation is not a long-term solution. Children only get one chance at their education, and they deserve to learn in proper, permanent facilities.”

Deputy Cleere highlighted that some 1,162 school projects are currently planned across the country. 30 of those are located in the constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny.

He called for more funding to be provided by the Government to progress these projects.

In response, Tánaiste Simon Harris thanked Deputy Cleere for raising the issue of school projects.

He went on to highlight the amount of funding that is currently being provided by the Government to fund such developments.

The Tánaiste said: “As he knows, since 2020, some €6.7 billion has been invested to increase capacity and upgrade school facilities.

“This is a record level of investment. Some €210 million in capital funding went to County Kilkenny and €51 million in capital funding went to County Carlow.

“Over that period, we saw 43 schools in County Kilkenny and 25 schools in County Carlow either being upgraded, having extensions built or getting additional accommodation.

“We also saw 45 special classes sanctioned for Kilkenny, eight of which are sanctioned for this September, and 32 extra special classes sanctioned for County Carlow, five of which are sanctioned for this September.”

However, he acknowledged that Deputy Cleere was right to raise the issues being faced in his community.

“The Deputy is right that there is more to do. I want people in Carlow, Kilkenny and throughout the country to know that this is not the final word on capital when it comes to education.

“In the medium-term fiscal plan that the Government has agreed, and that was approved at a European level only a couple of weeks ago, there is further capital to be allocated in the time ahead.

“As a Government, while we are not making decisions on it today, we will be eager to invest that in areas where we believe we can deliver real progress in communities in a speedy fashion.

“Schools and education have a very strong track record. The beauty of a school building project is that if you give it the green light, it goes ahead and it gets delivered quickly.”

The Tánaiste reiterated that progress is needed and additional funding will be allocated for school projects in the future.

Deputy Cleere said he was glad to hear this and went on to outline some of the schools in Carlow that are awaiting such funding.

“I am delighted to hear that additional funding will be made available. I look forward to engaging with the Tánaiste to deliver these projects.

“In Carlow, schools like Borris College and St. Mary's Academy CBS are under pressure. The projects are ready to go. They just need the green light from the Department.

“If we are serious about education, we cannot continue to delay investment where it is clearly needed.

“Students deserve a safe, modern space to learn, not uncertainty and overcrowding. It is time for action.

“I welcome the Tánaiste's comment that additional funding is going to be made available. It is time that these schools get the funding they urgently require.”

At the end of the exchange, the Tánaiste said that the Department of Education would keep in touch with Deputy Cleere regarding the schools mentioned.