A SMALL rural primary school has been using two prefabs as main classrooms for more than 40 years, the Dáil has heard.

Fine Gael’s Dan Neville has raised the case of Nicker national school in Co Limerick on a number of occasions and has appealed to Minister for Education Mary Coughlan to put the proposals for extensive refurbishment and an extension into the next school building programme.

Mr Neville said the prefabs for the 94-pupil school “are in very poor condition and in no way represent an appropriate environment for the safe and successful education of children”. School numbers are expected to increase to 120 within the next four years.

There were difficulties with changes in the weather when “very warm or very cold weather make these classrooms very uncomfortable and unsuitable for teachers and pupils”.

The Limerick West TD said another, smaller prefab bought some years ago was being used by the school’s learning support teacher.

Mr Neville highlighted problems with toilets in a separate building at the rear of the main school building. “It is totally inappropriate that children must go out into the open when using the toilets.”

Land for the new school had been bought for €23,650. The school had raised enough funds to provide the “specified local contribution” for the necessary capital works, but the board of management would be equally happy if funding came from the devolved grant scheme.

Mr Neville appealed to the Minister to “prioritise this school in the next school building programme”.

Minister of State for Education Seán Haughey, replying for Ms Coughlan, said: “In light of current competing demands on the capital budget at the department, it is not currently possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project.”