While smiling students return to primary schools across the country this week, the pupils at the Gaelscoil de h-Ide in Fermoy face into cramped conditions and a message not to run in the playground because of a lack of space.

Though a new school was promised in 2011, the board of management and parents still dont know where or when their new facility will be built.

With 410 students and inadequate classroom and playground space, pupils are not allowed run during morning break because of health and safety risks. The school was originally built to cater for just over 200 students.

While a preferred site for a possible new school, currently owned by Cork County Council, has been identified and partially fenced off, its not yet in the hands of the Department of Education. No official timeframe for transferral and eventual construction has been given, according to the Gaelscoil de h-Ide New School Action Group.

SPACE FOR EXCERCISE NECESSARY

At a time when were told how vitally important it is for children to exercise its sadly ironic that our sons and daughters are told not to break into a run. The teachers do everything they can to help the children play and let off steam, but they cant create space thats not there. Its vital for our childrens health, well-being and educational development that they have adequate space to run, jump and play, said Gaelscoil de h-Ide New School Action Group chairperson, Vivienne Dempsey.

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Lack of space hindering Gaelscoil pupils, as uncertainty over new school continues in Fermoy

Speaking at a business meeting held by VCCI, the Thai Consulate and the Thai Trade Centre in Ho Chi Minh City, Tuan said that bilateral trade had grown rapidly in the past few years, reaching nearly $9.5 billion (about Bt300 billion) last year.

For the first half of this year, bilateral trade was $5 billion, with Thailand enjoying a trade surplus, he added.

The meeting was attended by a delegation from 20 Thai companies who were in Vietnam to seek business opportunities. The Thai enterprises specialise in producing health food, yarn, fabrics, clothes, and sea and inland transport vehicles.

Many of the Thai companies want to set up joint ventures with Vietnamese companies or are looking for importers.

Thaiwahknit Wear Co, which specialises in making sportswear, women's blouses, functional fabric and accessories, golf wear and bike wear, for instance, is seeking importers and distributors to expand business in Vietnam.

Malinee Harnboonsong, commercial counsellor of the Thai Consulate and director of the Thai Trade Centre in Ho Chi Minh City, said many Thai businesses wanted to develop long-term cooperation with Vietnamese partners.

Tuan said Vietnam was currently Thailand's second-largest trading partner in the Asean region. However, bilateral trade was still low compared with the potential of the two countries.

Vietnam's trade deficit with Thailand remains high. He also called on business communities to make more effort to increase bilateral trade.

Vietnam imports plastic materials, automotive and motorbike spare parts, household electrical products, fuel, chemicals, and fabrics from Thailand. It exports telephones, crude oil, steel, seafood and computers to Thailand.

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Thai firms seeking new opportunities in Vietnam