‘There are 90 special children who deserve their own modern purpose-built school’

Six years ago St Mary's Special School in Johnstown was overjoyed to at last be sanctioned for a purpose built school to meet the needs of its 90 pupils but no-one could have envisioned that at the end of 2017, they would still be in temporary accommodation with work yet to start on the new school.

The tiny school dates back to 1961 and is now used as a general purpose room while all 14 classrooms are in prefabs added over the years to cater for the growing numbers which since they moved to Johnstown 15 years ago
The lack of accommodation means 14 pupils with severe to profound disabilities are off site at Bailis, Johnstown, and the school is looking forward to having all its pupils back together in the new school when it finally comes to fruition.
The two most recently installed prefabs are designed to a high standard but the older prefabs, some of which are 15 years old, are deteriorating and in constant need of repair and maintenance. 
Principal Ambrose Lavery said the energy costs are also very high to heat the prefabs and the lack of storage space in the school is a health and safety issue for the children.
One classroom with 15 children has just one bathroom, while another classroom has no adjacent bathroom. There is just one small kitchen to cook meals for 60 children each day.
St Mary's opened in 1977 in one of the old convent buildings in Athlumney and celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. It moved to the school site in Johnstown in 2002 and in 2011, a new school was sanctioned as part of the Johnstown Education Campus.

The first phase of the campus was completed late in 2013 but the second phase has proved problematic with boundary issues and traffic problems leading to delays.
It has been extremely frustrating for the school community in St Mary's and Mr Lavery said the most vulnerable children in the community are still being left waiting for proper facilities. 
“We feel we have slipped back,” said senior teacher Bernie Muldoon. “We want to remind people we are here and we are waiting. We expected to be in our new school in 2017,” she said.
Mr Lavery added: “We didn't foresee that there was going to be so many delays. We were hoping that the children would have been in place in the new campus where their care needs and the relevant curriculum could be delivered in the safest highest standard surroundings, what they are entitled to and they have a right to by now. But we are appreciative, and indebted for the finance and that eventually after 40 years a dream is coming to life.”
He said the process had been delayed but they do feel “there is a light at the end of the process that a resolution is nearing with the re-submission of stage 2a to the Department of Education”. 
Bob O'Callaghan, chairperson of the board of management said: “Unfortunately there were two delays. First with the boundary and it took nine months to resolve that and now we are into the whole issue of traffic. We are getting good support from Meath County Council and we want it resolved as quickly as possible. There are 90 special children who deserve a modern purpose built special school that would be fit for their needs and we look forward to the day it is delivered.”
St Mary's Special School is the fifth largest school of its type in the country and caters for 90 children aged from four to 18 from across Co Meath who travel to the school in 26 buses each day. 
There is a staff of 84 including 24 bus escorts, 19 teachers and 36 special needs assistants.
The school may not be in ideal accommodation but this does not stop them from providing a service of excellence for the children they care for and every available space is used as a learning space. 
They are working on their fourth green flag, have won Pride of Place awards and it is the first special school to take part in the junior entrepreneurs programme. This year the school is part of the new junior cycle pilot that will see senior children achieve the equivalent of the junior certificate.