There was more money for primary school buildings in the Estimates lastweek, but many children will endure sub-standard facilities for years to come, writes Seán Flynn, Education Editor

Away from the political story about the Estimates, the photographs on this page underline the shocking reality of life in many primary schools. Leaky roofs, outside toilets and dangerous and dank conditions are part of the school day for tens of thousands of children.

The scale of the problem is immense. Of the 3,200 national schools, more than 400 are dilapidated and need major work. A further 1,500 require repair work. Both the INTO and the Department reckon that over €1.5 billion is required over the next five years to get to grips with the problem.

But how did we ever get into this mess? Why must thousands of our schoolchildren continue to endure appalling classroom accommodation in one of the wealthiest states in Europe?

A glance at last week's Estimates provides the answer. Yes, the Minister for Education, Noel Dempsey, did well to squeeze an extra €23 million for primary school buildings but, in relative terms, it is still a drop in the ocean. Of the €6.5 billion in the total education budget, only €190 million went to building work in more than 3,000 national schools. To put this in context, this allocation is just over twice the special funding provided by Charlie McCreevy to the racing industry in the Budget.

The INTO has graciously acknowledged Dempsey's efforts. The €190 million in the Estimates is the highest-ever allocation for primary school buildings. The Minister says a further €25 million carried over from last year will also be available. In all, there will be about €50 million to build new schools. He says there may also be enough money in the kitty to make a significant dent in the condition of the 30 worst schools in the State.

Sounds impressive, and there is more jam in the primary school building programme.The problem is it must be spread very thinly across across 3,000 schools in every parish and village in the State. Many of these , which date back to the early 1970s, are low-cost, high-maintenance buildings that are now coming to the end of their natural lives.

Last year, it is estimated that the Department of Education building unit visited no less than 1,000 separate primary schools. This is a praiseworthy effort by the Department but with limited funds available there is a sense in which the best it can do for many schools is to patch and mend. The problem of lousy, sub-standard accommodation does not disappear; a band-aid is applied.

The Minister openly admits it could take a decade to clear the current building list, given the years of under-development in the sector. He also wants to deliver a new, more transparent system in which, he says, "it will be a waste of time phoning a politician or whispering in his ear . . . As far as I am concerned, there will be an open and transparent system".

Some progress is being made. The Department is now methodically making its way through the immense backlog. It should no longer be possible for schools to skip the queue.

In the next few months, the Department of Education and the Department of Finance hope to finalise a rolling five-year School Modernisation Programme. The plan is that every school will know where they are on the list and when they can expect the builders in. The Minister's bona fides on the issue are accepted by all of the main players, including the INTO. He inherited a problem caused by years of gross under-investment just when the fizz went out of the tiger economy.

But it is hard to blame some teachers, INTO representatives, schools and communities if they are sceptical about the current plans. All sorts of elaborate promises were made to hundreds of schools before the last election. Virtually all are still waiting for the builders to move in.

Dempsey, who was openly critical of the pre-election promises, says he is a different Minister with a different agenda.

Some time next week he will sit down with the INTO. The union has said it is poised to take strike action if he does not convince them that the Estimates will mean real progress.

The INTO's John Carr says the increase provided is not enough to end the scandal of thousands of primary school pupils attending schools in damp, cold and dangerous buildings. It points out that only €10 million of the €160 million allocated last year was used to build new schools; the rest was absorbed by prior commitments.