'We're taking to the streets' - Laois people power protests at Government halting special school

The people of Laois have come out in their droves to an emergency public meeting for a special school put on hold for a long-promised new building.

St Mary's Hall Portlaoise was packed with local people on Wednesday, March 22 angry with the decision to put the Kolbe Special School, which educates some of the county's most vulnerable and profoundly disabled children, on hold over money.

More than 40 children with special educational needs attend the Block Road school. Staff must teach and care for the 43 children in wet, mouldy, cramped prefabs. There is no sensory room or PE hall and health and safety is a big concern.

The community crammed into St Mary's Hall on Wednesday night with many angry with the Department of Public Expenditure instigated delay leaving the already approved €9 million project in doubt.

It was first promised more than two decades ago. Since then all other schools in Portlaoise that existed at the time have new homes.

A public march is promised, if the decision is not reversed within two weeks. The principal is Orlagh Mahon.

"If we don't have an answer we're taking to the streets. Everyone in Laois is behind Kolbe now. They don't feel they're on their own now," she said, to cheers. 

Below: Laois councillors with Minister of State Sean Fleming and (back) Kolbe Special School staff at the meeting.

Parent Niamh Ryan spoke about the poor building conditions, the damp, cold and lack of space.

"Kolbe is not a respite centre, it's a school. They are entitled to an education. The environment must be conducive to learning. Staff should be able to spend most of their time teaching, not plugging holes in windows.

"When Liam's brother was in 3rd class he moved to a fabulous new school and now a secondary school. He often asks why Liam and his friends don't have a proper school too. If children can see how children with disabilities are being treated, why can't our government?

"We have waited too long. Too many empty promises, but this time we're going the whole way," the parent said.

Parent Orlaith Kerrigan said her son Luke, 6, has severe autism which is exacerbated by the poor building.

“He has heightened anxiety, he doesn’t have the words to describe the pervasive fear and dread he feels. Even a child clapping or crying can drive him to attempt to escape, to become physically aggressive, to self injure. I would not wish the sight of your six year old self-injuring on my worst enemy.

“The willingness and good will of staff in the school is literally propping up that school,” she said.

She has sent countless emails to politicians and the Department of Education pleading for action.

“Norma Foley is the Minister for Education. I don’t doubt her sincerity, but I doubt her efficacy and her ability to get this job done. 

“This was shelved by email at the last minute. A decision scuppering our new school. Paschal Donohue said it’s about prioritising and not about money, so I have to ask why not prioritise Kolbe?  There are 43 severely profoundly affected children being failed by this Government," the mother said.

Nurse Tina Conroy is one of two stationed in the school, and describes the nurses station as “a portacabin with mould and water dripping down the walls”.

“It is not sealed or insulated. When the pipes freeze there is no running water and that affects infection control.”

With only space for one pupil at a time, medical assessments must be carried out in the narrow corridor crowded with equipment.

"The pupils have sensory issues, epilepsy, sight, hearing and speech impairments, respiratory conditions. We endeavour to provide the highest standard of care in an environment that is inadequate and unacceptable. 

“We need to stand together for the pupils with no words, as they deserve more. We’ve had years of broken promises. Our pupils will not be left behind. Prioritise Kolbe,” the nurse urged.

Teacher Kate Steed said children with visual impairment face trip hazards as equipment has to be left in corridors and classrooms. 

“We get many leaks in the ceiling, they are fixed and fixed again. Our caretaker John and staff try and keep the building warm but it’s getting to the stage where they can’t any more. I shudder to think what the next heating bill will be. It is harder to stay warm when you have reduced mobility. 

“The prefabs are in extremely bad repair. The pipes freeze, then the water stops. But the water in the ceiling and windows doesn’t often stop. 

“The roof is sagging in the staffroom, it won’t be usable soon. The Department didn’t even provide that, it came from community funding,” the teacher said. 

The 40 staff have to share two toilets.

“The sewers are not fit for purpose. Piping has collapsed. There are unpleasant smells that are not right for anyone, especially not for our children.

Laois Government politicians Minister Sean Fleming, Fianna Fáil, and Deputy Charlie Flanagan, Fine Gael, promised that delay will be reversed and building will proceed as planned. 

"I'll guarantee we will get this corrected very quickly, to get it off the list and into tender. We are only talking days or weeks," Minister Fleming said.

Deputy Charlie Flanagan said the delay will be short.

“Two weeks ago I spoke to the principal and I told her the delay would be no more than four weeks. Having spoken to Paschal, it’s my firm view that it will be back on track by Easter. I can assure you it is no more than a matter of weeks," he said. 

Sinn Féin Deputy Brian Stanley said removing it from the priority list was "disgraceful".

"Standing behind you are hundreds of people from this community. I can't understand that in all of the schools put up around the country, the children who need it most, in the worst condition, find themselves at the back of the list again. The ESB is not holding this up. What's holding it up is it was taken off at the stroke of a pen. Promises have been broken, it needs to be fixed very quickly. I give you my full support. This is unjust, wrong and disgraceful," he said.

People are not convinced.

"Then you look at Rathdowney’s hall and it’s just embarrassing"- Ross King on the lack of a sports hall in St Fergal's

One parent said her child was 13 back in 2003 when a school was promised, and he is now 36.

"We are still not anywhere near a new school. I'll take your promise with a pinch of salt, we heard it all before," she said.

The principal thanked the public for support.

“I am blown away by the amount of support that we have received since we got the news on March 6 about our new school being put on hold. We need you to keep supporting us. 

“We know that the TDs have not committed to a definite date as to when we will hear anything from the Department, but as a school community we are giving them until March 29 and after that we will plan a march and to take all and every action needed to ensure that our pupils are not left behind again," Orlagh Mahon said.

The €9 million new school building has planning approval to be built next to the current building, with preliminary site works by ESB begun recently. 

It t is on a list of 58 school projects announced as under review by the Department of Education and Department of Public Expenditure, as part of a review of spending on new schools under the €12 billion National Development Plan.

The Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe has said he wants to check if there is enough money in the plan to fund Kolbe and the other schools.