Public meeting hears of shocking conditions that Mayo national school has to endure

Minister of State Alan Dillon has given his full backing to a Castlebar national school that is seeking a promised new building.

There were passionate contributions at a public meeting held last Thursday evening to address the issues being experienced by Castlebar Educate Together NS. The school is currently operating in sub-standard conditions across three campuses, more than two years after being promised a new building.

The meeting heard how teachers and students must cope with damp, mouldy, and cramped conditions. Children have no adequate space in which to play and some siblings that attend the school have never been in the same building together as the school is forced to operate from three locations. One of the temporary buildings is a former café where sixth-class students are in the restaurant and fifth class are taught in the kitchen.

The school was opened in temporary accommodation in 2016 with 12 pupils and continued to grow into a three-campus school with 136 pupils today.

Following engagement with the Department of Education, Minister Norma Foley visited the school in September 2022 where the need for a new building was acknowledged and promised.

Newly-appointed Minister for State Alan Dillon told the meeting he will arrange a meeting with the school, the Department of Education, and Minister Foley. He pledged his full support and told staff and parents he would deliver an update on the meetings within seven days.

Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh accused the Department of engaging in "stalling tactics" and urged political allegiances to be put aside for the good of the school.

“This is bigger than party politics, but it will take political will,” said Deputy Conway-Walsh.

Teachers, parents, students, elected representatives and candidates spoke at Thursday’s meeting.

School principal Sarah Calvey said the hat factory site on the Newport Road is the ideal location and called on the Department of Education to purchase the site immediately.

“Unfortunately, the buildings are not fit for purpose,” said Ms Calvey.

The school sent the Department of Education a portfolio of potential sites but feels this is not being progressed.

“We keep getting responses from the Department that are not factual, that are not correct and that are just diversion tactics,” said Ms Calvey. “Our school is being treated really unfairly here."

The school has been tasked with an emergency accommodation project where it currently has classrooms at the former hat factory. This development will run into hundreds of thousands of euro while the school is crying out for a permanent solution.

“This makes no sense to me,” said Ms Calvey, adding that the situation the school finds itself is unacceptable.

“Tonight is our cry for help,” she said.

Deputy principal Miriam Conway detailed the horrendous conditions that students and staff are forced to endure where cramped and sub-standard conditions are further exacerbated by the logistical nightmare of operating across three campuses. She said there is mould in classrooms and in corridors and there are no bathrooms or running water in any of the classrooms. 

The school is unable to provide PE and the cramped playground means children often have to play in a car park. Ms Conway said it is routine for teachers to have to clean up litter and broken glass in the car park before the school day starts.

“We just want one building where we can educate together,” said Ms Conway.

Sixth-class student Sarah Scott was given a standing ovation when she delivered a passionate plea for help and support.

“We are not only a school, we are a community,” said Sarah. “Every part of this is frustrating beyond words. We are an incredible school but we are not being given what we deserve. No matter how loud we shout we are not being listened to. But we are not going to give up, we are going to keep fighting until we get the school we deserve."

Concerned parents praised the "incredible" teaching staff but said it is unfair that they have to work in such difficult circumstances and surroundings.

"It's just not fit for students. It's shocking," said Laura Campbell, adding that she witnessed a dedicated staff member trying to teach a student with special education needs on a rickety old staircase.

"This is beyond criminal. It has to change," she remarked.