Sinn Féin’s South Down MP Chris Hazzard this week met with concerned parents of pupils at St Paul’s PS, Cabra located between Castlewellan and Hilltown to discuss the need for emergency repairs to a P3 mobile classroom.
The mobile classroom requires a new roof following serious damage caused during the recent Storm Ali, but the South Down MP believes the Education Authority (EA) needs to do more to restore the confidence of parents and pupils that the classroom is a safe learning environment.
Mr Hazzard said: “Having visited the mobile classroom in person and witnessed the scale of the damp and rotten conditions of the interior of the classroom, I share parents’ concerns that a new roof and some superficial decorating will not ensure a safe learning environment.
“Investigative work must be carried out as soon as possible to determine the source of the damp, mouldy conditions.
“Anything less would not only be a misuse of public funds, but would do little to ensure the well being of pupils and staff as simply painting over the symptoms will not eradicate the source of the problem.
“Having now raised this issue directly with senior representatives of the EA, I hope that sense will prevail and we can see the children return to a safe, warm and dry learning environment as soon as possible.”
