A century-old Galway secondary school is relying on scaffolding, shared laptops and staff ingenuity as serious building defects expose wider concerns about investment in Irish education. The condition of Coláiste Muire Máthair has become a stark symbol of the pressure facing schools across Ireland.
Breaking News: Galway school struggles with unsafe building conditions
Coláiste Muire Máthair, located on St Mary’s Road in Galway city, serves more than 800 students. Its main building opened in 1912 and has undergone several changes, including the amalgamation of Our Lady’s College and St Mary’s College.
Today, parts of that historic building are closed because of extensive deterioration. The entire top floor has been taken out of use and is supported by scaffolding. Elsewhere, protective “crash decks” have been installed in busy areas to reduce the risk from falling material.
Water entering through the building has contributed to dampness and damage. In some classrooms, windows have been cordoned off because pieces of plaster and ceiling material have fallen. The school must also keep some windows open to manage moisture, despite the impact this has on already weakened walls.
Students are being taught around scaffolding and repairs
The condition of the premises affects more than the appearance of the school. It raises direct questions about safety, dignity and the quality of the learning environment available to students.
School principal Claire Mac Loughlin has described the situation as incompatible with the school’s responsibility to provide a safe and respectful setting for children. Staff and the caretaker continue to manage day-to-day problems while the school waits for remedial work to proceed.
Key facts
- Coláiste Muire Máthair has more than 800 students.
- The main building dates from 1912.
- The top floor is closed and supported by scaffolding.
- Some lower-floor areas require protective structures.
- The school is awaiting further remedial works and progressing a major building project.
Why the Galway school’s problems matter for Ireland
The situation in Galway has become part of a broader debate about education funding in Ireland. Irish students continue to achieve strong results internationally, yet the State’s spending on education remains low by OECD standards.
According to the source report, Ireland records the lowest education spending as a proportion of gross domestic product among OECD countries. At the same time, Irish students ranked first in reading, third in science and fourth in mathematics among 27 EU countries in the latest PISA results referenced.
Those outcomes reflect the work of students, teachers, school leaders and families. They also raise an important public policy question: how long can schools maintain strong educational performance when buildings, equipment and support systems are under pressure?
Part-DEIS status adds to financial pressure
Coláiste Muire Máthair receives part-DEIS status following the amalgamation of its predecessor schools. The school says disadvantage among its student population is increasing, creating additional demands despite limited resources.
Its student body includes families with very different financial circumstances. To avoid visibly separating students, the school uses available funds to reduce food costs for everyone, although only 250 students are covered by the hot school meals scheme.
This approach reflects an effort to protect equality within the school, but it also means limited funding must stretch across competing priorities, from meals and technology to building maintenance.
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Shared laptops create challenges under the new senior cycle
Building repairs are not the only difficulty. Changes to the senior cycle curriculum require students to use laptops for additional assessment components, known as AACs.
Rather than require every family to purchase a device, the school has bought 24 laptops on a shared trolley. Teachers book the equipment and move it between classes, while students must repeatedly sign in, locate charging points and sometimes work in pairs.
The arrangement provides access, but it does not offer the same flexibility as one device per student. Senior cycle pupils have limited time to complete assessment work, so delays caused by logging in, finding equipment or sharing a machine can affect their available study time.
- Laptops must be reserved by teachers.
- Devices are moved between classrooms.
- Students have to sign in during each use.
- Charging and availability can cause delays.
- Senior students face particular pressure because assessment deadlines are fixed.
Students have also raised concerns about the amount of screen time associated with the revised curriculum. Their comments underline that digital access is not simply a question of owning hardware; schools also need reliable infrastructure, technical support and enough devices for meaningful use.
Department of Education response
The Department of Education said it was actively engaging with the school. It indicated that scaffolding works had been completed and that additional remedial works were expected to begin in the coming weeks.
The Department also said a major building project was progressing. Officials were expected to liaise with the project manager and the school to arrange a stakeholders meeting.
That response provides a route towards a longer-term solution, but the immediate challenge remains keeping students and staff safe while the historic building continues to deteriorate.
What happens next at Coláiste Muire Máthair?
The next stages will depend on the Department’s remedial work schedule and the progress of the planned major building project. In the meantime, the school will continue to rely on temporary safety measures and careful management of its limited resources.
The case also has significance beyond Galway. It highlights how school leaders are attempting to protect equality, deliver curriculum changes and maintain safe premises at the same time. For parents and students, the practical question is whether promised works will arrive quickly enough to restore normal learning conditions.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Coláiste Muire Máthair?
The secondary school is on St Mary’s Road in Galway city.
Why is part of the school closed?
The top floor has been closed because of serious damage, including water ingress, deteriorating plaster and falling building material.
What has the Department of Education said?
The Department said it was engaging with the school, that scaffolding works had been completed and that further remedial works were expected to start in the coming weeks.
Why are students sharing laptops?
The school purchased a limited number of laptops so students could complete senior-cycle assessment work without requiring every family to buy a device.
Conclusion: a warning for Ireland’s education system
The Galway school’s deteriorating building and shortage of laptops reveal how much Irish schools depend on staff creativity and sacrifice. Coláiste Muire Máthair continues to support students and deliver strong educational outcomes, but temporary fixes cannot replace sustained investment.
This Breaking News story matters because safe buildings, adequate technology and equal access are fundamental parts of education. The central takeaway is clear: Ireland’s academic achievements must be matched by reliable funding for the schools that make those achievements possible.