A number of key school projects across Co Donegal have been overlooked in the five-year School Building Programme published today, according to Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Children Charlie McConalogue.
The Donegal North East TD commented, “I welcome the confirmation that construction on a new Educate Together primary school in Letterkenny will begin in 2015/2016. In addition to this, construction on extension at the Little Angels Special School in Letterkenny and an extension at Deele College in Raphoe will begin in 2014/2015. This is very welcome news indeed for the children and staff attending these schools and will make a great difference to the facilities available to them.
“However, a number of schools that were on the same list as these projects last year and were ready for design stage have been completely omitted. These include Scoil Naomh Fiachra in Letterkenny, Glenswilly National School, Scoil Mhuire in Stranorlar and St Eunan’s College Letterkenny. In the case of St Eunan’s, tender documents had already been prepared. There will also be no new premises in Buncrana for either Scoil Iosagain or the new Crana College Campus.
“The Government had billed this School Building Programme as a major announcement, but it has fallen short of the mark for many Donegal schools that had very legitimate claims on investment in their premises over the next five years. Certain crucial projects that had already proceeded to design or planning have been ignored leaving this a very disappointing announcement for students, staff and families who depend on these schools.
“I intend to challenge the Education Minister Ruairí Quinn about the schools he has overlooked, and impress on him the importance of these projects to our communities in Donegal and the value of investing in our schools to create the optimum learning environment for our children,” concluded Deputy McConalogue.
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