Laois school with GAA tradition has no PE hall 86 years after being built
Shovel ready project ready to go
The lack of a sports hall in one of the most successful GAA schools in Laois nearly nine decades after the school opened has been raised in the Dáil.
Laois Offaly Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley raised the need St Fergal’s College Rathdowney to have a PE hall in Leinster House.
“Founded in 193, it still does not have a physical education, (PE), hall 86 years later. It is the only secondary school in the county that does not have a PE hall. In 2010, the then Department of Education and Skills approved a plan along with extra classrooms. The classrooms were provided. They were constructed but no hall, because the money has not been provided since.
“Planning permission is in place - this is important - and the board of management and Laois County Council have ensured that is rolled over and has been kept up to date. This is a shovel-ready project," he said.
Dep Stanley said the school serves a large catchment area of Durrow, Cullahill, Errill, Borris-in-Ossory, Knockaroo, Cuddagh and Ballacolla. He said these areas do not have indoor sports facilities either.
"These are the facts we are dealing with. The school population is increasing, and it has excellent staff. I have visited the school many times and it has really committed staff who are doing their best to provide first-class education, but they need to have the facilities.
"There are 330 pupils in the school now and this number is expected to increase by 16% in September, based on 2021 figures. There are Ukrainians to be housed in the town, for whom modular homes are being built. They will need school places and hopefully they will be accommodated. I know the people of Rathdowney will do their best in that regard,’’ he said.
Dep Stanley said the school currently has a small general-purpose hall which serves as a canteen, a meeting room, an assembly room, a storage room and a multitude of other uses.
"It is totally unsuitable and too small for any meaningful PE classes. There is also another issue. Leaving certificate PE, which is now an examination subject, cannot be provided at the school because it does not have a PE hall. There is also the issue of disabled persons' access and use. In a school of this size, there will be pupils with disabilities, and we must treat those children equally.
"That is what this is about. St. Fergal's College has a strong tradition in sport, particularly in hurling, and people in the midlands will know that south Laois is the strong end of the county where the hurling is very good. St. Fergal's College has played a key role in camogie, Gaelic football, soccer and athletics over the years. We know the benefits of physical activity. We know how important this is in terms of countering obesity and for the promotion of good health in children.
"The Laois TD said he has raised this matter many times with the Department and the Minister for Health. It is a question of funding. We have been told we must wait for phase 2 of the national development plan, which is due to kick off later this year. Will the Minister of State ensure the case is brought back to and pushed forward by the Government in order that this school is treated properly, and this project gets underway?” Ends
Ossian Smyth, the Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, replied.
“My Department’s Planning and Building Unit is currently assessing its work programme and priorities for 2023 in the context of its available funding.
“Investment and expenditure on PE halls is an element of this overall expenditure and investment in the School Building Programme.
“Under the National Development Plan there will be a strengthened focus on refurbishment of existing school stock,” he said.
The school says it has three outdoor playing pitches, basketball and tennis courts, a walking track and multi use games area pitch.
Management say they are constantly looking to upgrade facilities to meet the needs of our growing school population. They included in this work on delivering a modern, fully functional sports hall and an upgraded, modern outdoor multi-use facility.