Several classrooms in a Dublin special needs school have been out of use for several months because the “whole roof is leaking”. 

Aaron’s daughter attends Enable Ireland Sandymount School and most of the pupils have medical and complex needs.

Speaking to Lunchtime Live, Aaron described the school as “fantastic” but said the school building is quite literally falling apart.

“A year ago, the roof started leaking,” he said.

“They haven’t been able to get it fixed since; they’ve gone back and forward.

“They’ve had people in and they’re doing reports but it’s getting to the stage now... which means the SNAs and teachers are swapping out buckets because the water’s running down through the roof.”

Several classrooms are closed off and a soft playroom for the children has not been used in six months.

“The whole roof is leaking,” he said.

“The soft play room is leaking, there’s one other classroom that’s leaking, Sophia’s classroom has damp coming down the walls.

“The PE Hall is out of bounds because it’s coming down through the suspended ceiling there.

“It’s really something that you wouldn’t expect to see in Sandymount.”

Enable Ireland Sandymount School. 13/05/2024. Picture by: Aaron.

There are also problems with the heating and the children have often had to wear their winter coats while in the class.

The school has been unable to get any of these issues fixed.

“It keeps coming into the Department of Education, they keep coming back with bureaucracy and red tape,” Aaron said.

“Rest assured, if the Department of Education or the Minster’s office in Dáil Éireann was leaking for six months, it would be fixed.

“Fix the roof; there’s no reason why this roof could not be sorted if the will power was there.”

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