The Department of Education yesterday announced details of a plan to establish 42 new schools in Ireland over the next 4 years (2019 to 2022). Out of the 29 primary and 16 post-primary schools that were announced, no new schools are planned for Donegal.
Donegal Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher says this plan is ignoring rural Ireland. Whilst welcoming the Government’s commitment to construct new school buildings, Pat the Cope called this ‘another example of how rural Ireland is not been given fair play or an equal share in the recovery’. He has called on the department to end rural neglect and implement a rural school building programme.
Pat the Cope said: “I am absolutely shocked that no Donegal school has made it on to the building programme, especially in the context whereby quite a number of schools throughout the county, are awaiting approval for construction, with other schools waiting to get through the cumbersome and lengthy building process and procedures of the Department, which eventually lead to permission to go to construction.”
He added: “Today’s approval gives the green light for 26 new primary schools and a further 16 post primary schools throughout the country but, primarily on the east coast of Ireland or in urban areas. This Government has again failed to rural proof their policies. It is another example of how rural Ireland is not been given fair play or an equal share in the recovery – time and time again we see how rural Ireland is being left behind and how this Government have a different set of criteria in how they deal with rural areas such as Donegal – today’s announcement copper fastens that policy of rural neglect.”
The Donegal Deputy said he is requesting the Minister of Education Richard Bruton to favourably consider all Donegal School Applications under the Summer Works Scheme, Emergency Works Scheme and Minor Works Scheme, in order that these schools are maintained until such time as further Capital works can be approved.
Pat the Cope stated: “the Minister is now setting a new precedent whereby urban growth areas are getting preference over all other areas – these green field site developments are urgently needed but, equally it is the case that new school buildings are urgently required, where existing schools require new buildings or complete extension/refurbishment to existing school .
“Schools such as St Mary’s National School, Stranorlar, Gaelscoil na gCeithre Maistrí Donegal Town require new buildings while numerous other schools in Donegal such as Abbey Vocational School, Scoil Mhuire Belcruit, Scoil Mhuire Creeslough, Scoil Adhamhnain Luinneach, Dunkineely NS, Donoughmore NS, Castlefin, Little Angels Letterkenny, St Eunan’s College Letterkenny, Derryconnor NS, Buncrana 3 School Campus, require extensions due to capacity issues or due to the fact that the school buildings are deteriorating rapidly and require upgrading or renewal in order to be fit for purpose.
“These school issues have been raised on numerous occasions by me in the Dáil and on each occasion the Minister has failed to act and failed to sanction new school building for these Donegal Schools, more recently when the Minister of Education toured Donegal schools he failed to visit St Mary’s National School despite being invited to the school as there were other schools also which he failed to recognise whilst in the county.
“I challenge the Government to put in place a rural school building programme which will urgently deal with schools that are in need of new builds or complete overhaul such as those schools in Donegal, if the Government persists on their policy of favouring urban schools over rural areas then many schools in Donegal may never get eventual approval for construction of their much needed new schools.
“A school overcrowded in rural Ireland is no different to an overcrowded school in urban areas – but, this Government has failed to recognise the needs of rural areas – insisting instead on providing prefabs and temporary accommodation for rural areas rather than the new school buildings for urban area.
“This policy or rural neglect and failing to identify the needs of rural area must be reversed and a level playing field provided for all regardless of what postal address the respective schools have,” concluded Pat the Cope.
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