THE Department of Education has announced funding for 24 sub-standard primary schools so that work can begin on necessary improvements this year.
These "immediate priority schools" include two where parents have mounted public campaigns by withdrawing their children in the past month: Kilglass, near Ballinasloe, Co Galway, and Urbleshanny, in Scotstown, Co Monaghan.
The schools involved range from those which are on the point of inviting tenders to those who have accepted tenders and are awaiting the go-ahead to start building work.
A Department source said all of them should be able to begin work within three months.
Department sources added that the list represented the first phase of this year's building programme. The Minister for Education, Ms Breathnach, would be reviewing the primary school building programme and hoped to make another funding announcement before the summer break.
The Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) welcomed the announcement but said the list's publication did not necessarily mean an immediate go-ahead for these schools' building plans.
It pointed out that some of the schools had been on earlier lists published by the Department, some dating as far back as 1994.
The principal of Kilglass National School, Mr Michael Nee, welcomed the announcement, although he said his school's refurbishment plans had been included in both the 1995 and 1996 education estimates.
He said the plans for a £130,000 classroom block for the vermin-infested school were ready to go out to tender. Some 85 per cent of this sum would come from the Department of Education.
The principal of Urbleshanny National School, Mr Gerard McCague, said he regarded the Minister's decision as "a positive development although one that was long overdue".
"I would hope that the Department will invite tenders immediately for our extension," he said.
Mr McCague said that in view of yesterday's decision, the school's teachers would be calling off their one-day strike on February 4th.
Only five of the 24 schools were featured on a list of 47 "seriously sub-standard" primary schools published by the INTO in early December.
The union said 75 per cent of those schools had identified health or safety hazards for pupils, and about 55 per cent were infested by rats or mice.
The full list of 24 primary schools is: Conna, Gaelscoil Youghal, Scoil Trieste Lota, Crab Lane, Ballinlough (Our Lady of Lourdes NS) and Ballycotton in Co Cork; Convoy, Co Donegal; Our Lady of the Wayside NS, Kilternan, Co Dublin; St Augustine's NS, Clontuskert, and Kilglass in Co Galway.
St John's NS, Tralee, Caharleheen (Ballyseedy) and Knockaderry (Farranfore) in Co Kerry; Allen and Kilmeade in Co Kildare; St Joseph's Convent, Mohill, Co Leitrim; Knockbridge, Co Louth.
Lorgwood, Rathcairn and Rathoath, Co Meath; Rathbane, Co Mayo; Urbleshanny, Co Monaghan; St Attracta's, Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon; and the Sligo School Project.