Massive health and safety issues are said to exist in a number of schools under the control of North Tipperary VEC, putting students in danger. The principal of one school claimed the Health and Safety Authority would close down the facility if they visited, leaving up to 500 students out on the street.

The issue was raised at the May meeting of the VEC in Nenagh, where it emerged once again that the building programme had not progressed "one iota". This has been the regular message from CEO David Leahy in recent months as a result of the department's refusal to sanction much-needed work on buildings.  

Mr Leahy expressed his frustration and said the VEC officials were desperately seeking a meeting with the secretary of the department to ascertain what exactly was happening.

Councillors who had visited reported serious issues in:

• Borrisokane Vocational School, where buckets had been deployed to catch water from the leaking roof;
• Nenagh Vocational School which was described as "an accident waiting to happen";
• Roscrea Community College, which is short of 30 classrooms and cannot develop because the department is "dragging its feet";
• St Sheelan's College in Templemore, which is still waiting for the department to keep its side of the bargain following the amalgamation of schools in the town.

All of this has led to serious calls for action - before something disastrous happens.

"I think we should try to meet with Minister Batt O'Keeffe and outline to him just how serious our concerns are", Councillor Jim Casey, Chairman of the VEC said.

"We need to put him in the picture - his predecessor Mary Hanafin was very much aware of the situation and I think it would do no harm to brief the new Minister as well because there is a real urgency about this,"

The Chairman paid tribute to those involved in the VEC in North Tipperary, stating that the standard of education in the schools and education centres was exceptionally high, in spite of the difficult conditions.

"I don't think the public is fully aware of the work that is being done. It saddens me when I see that the basic help we are looking for, in terms of making buildings safe for students, is being ignored. It seems that we have to go on our hands and knees to get it. It is extremely frustrating," he said.

Councillor John Hogan supported and seconded the call to arrange a meeting with the new Minister for Education. (Source: Tipperary Today)