Classrooms at a Mallow primary school in Co Cork are empty today as parents organised a walkout to protest over bad conditions and delays in the school building programme.
Parents have taken their children from class for the day because they are frustrated with bureaucracy at the Department of Education that has held up the renovation of Burnfort Primary School since 1996.
"Parents, the management board and teachers have just lost patience at the slow process it takes to get things done," said Mr Peter Mullan of Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO).
For the past six years the school has been trying to replace two prefabs, over 20 years old, with permanent accommodation but its application has yet to pass through the various stages of the Department’s procedures. Earlier this year, the school was informed it was not to be included in this year’s funding.
"The level of frustration and anger is palpable," said Mr Mullan, "what is getting to them is the lack of transparency in the system."
Mallow parents and teaching staff have warned of further protests if no action is taken on the conditions at the Burnfort school.
Funding is a key issue in the INTO’s pre-election campaign which challenges the tradition of investing more State finance into post-primary education.
The INTO estimates €250 million each year over the next 10 years is needed to solve the problems in primary education facilities. There are 120 schools on its sub-standard list where many of the school are overcrowded, badly need refurbishment and have dangerous playgrounds.