Parents yesterday picketed a Wexford Gaelscoil in protest at conditions and to highlight their demand for a new school building.
The 225 pupils were withdrawn for the day from Scoil Charman, which is housed in a sports hall and four pre-fabricated buildings.
An action committee representing parents, staff and management claims it was promised by the Department of Education and Science that a new premises, adjacent to the existing school at Bishopswater, would be open in September.
The Department says the new building will not be ready until late 2003 at the earliest, and has offered to provide temporary accommodation in the meantime. The offer has been rejected by the committee.
Parents began picketing the school yesterday at 9 a.m. and the protest continued until the normal class finishing time of 2.30 p.m. Many carried placards bearing the demand: "Tóg Scoil Charman Anois!" ("Build Scoil Charman Now!").
Mr Peadar Maxwell, a spokes- man for the committee, said there had been "100 per cent support" by parents for the withdrawal of children for the day.
Local people had also expressed their support.
Classes are to resume as normal today but Mr Maxwell said protests would be intensified if they did not get the desired result.
