Pupils forced out after rats plague school

FOUR Irish schools were forced to close classrooms last year because of rat infestations, the Department of Education has admitted. Two schools shut for three days, while another had to demolish its home economics room. A fourth was judged unfit for human occupation.

Kilronan vocational school on Inis Mor, had to demolish its home-economics classroom. Micheal O Goill, the principal, said: "We . . . got €20,000 from the department to build a new domestic-science room." Eglish national school in Galway was given a health warning from a pest control firm last year.

Schools pay for routine pest control from their capitation grants or minor-work allowances, but can apply to the department for emergency funding in cases of "infestation". Four schools received this funding last year when they were "overrun" by vermin, according to documents released under the Freedom of Information Act. Principals blame ageing buildings and run-down pre-fabs.

Rahan national school near Mallow shut for three days. Gerry Lynch, the principal, said: "The timber-frame pre-fabs were 22 years old, well past their lifespan." St Brigid's national school in Suncroft, Co Kildare closed for three days. "We had to pay €4,700 to make the school habitable," said Derry Enright, management board chairman. "Eventually [the department] gave us €3,600."

The department said health and safety should be addressed by school authorities, and that €4.5 billion was being invested under the National Development Plan. "Close to €600m of this will be provided this year [and will] significantly improve the building stock."