Athlone School forced to use small garden shed as Covid-19 isolation room

Image: schooldays.ie

The school says there is no other space left on campus.

A primary school in Athlone is planning to use a garden shed as an isolation room for students with Covid-19 symptoms, it has emerged.

If any children are identified with symptoms at Clonbonny National School today, they will have to be moved to the small shed, RTE reports.

ISOLATION ROOM? Parents & staff at Clonbonny National School bear Athlone are NOT happy with the lack of support from Dept of Education in their efforts to get extra space at the school. This is the garden shed - where children with covid symptoms will be isolated at the school pic.twitter.com/5oPLewRDwb

— Ciaran Mullooly (@ciaranmullooly) August 26, 2020

According to staff and parents at the school, it was the only area left available on the campus.

Local Counciller Frankie Keena told RTE the school have sought help from the Department of Education in getting additional portable classroom space, but are yet to receive any.

"It is not just good enough," said Ms Keena.

"The school board have sought help and a portacabin from the department. They have already turned the school canteen into a room and they have no space left."

ISOLATION ROOM? Parents & staff at Clonbonny National School bear Athlone are NOT happy with the lack of support from Dept of Education in their efforts to get extra space at the school. This is the garden shed - where children with covid symptoms will be isolated at the school pic.twitter.com/BVodP1KkKE

— Ciaran Mullooly (@ciaranmullooly) August 26, 2020

It comes after a school in Carlow yesterday held a prayer assembly with 152 students spaced 1 metre apart.

Speaking at a school in Dublin this morning, The Taoiseach says that there will be lots of challenges ahead of children going back to school.