Blaney Demands Urgent Action On Letterkenny Schools
Urgent action is needed to advance a number of Letterkenny schools in the School Building Programme, according to local Fianna Fáil TD Niall Blaney. 25-01-10According to Deputy Blaney, Letterkenny schools have been left behind and are in need of significant investment in this year’s School Building Programme. The Donegal North East Fianna Fáil TD has met with the Minister for Education and Science Batt O’Keeffe TD last week to raise the problem with him and he has demanded that a number of Letterkenny school projects proceed to construction as soon as possible.
“There has been significant Government investment in Donegal schools over the last 10 years and we have proof of that around the county with new buildings and modernised facilities.”
“However, a number of Letterkenny schools have been left behind in my view and, while some are in the process of getting the improvement required by them, I met with Minister O’Keeffe this week to demand that urgent action be taken to speed up the process.”
“Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal, Scoil Choilmcille on the Back Road, and St Eunan’s College in particular must see their new buildings or extensions advanced to construction.”
“Glenswilly National School, the Educate Together in Ballyraine, St Patrick’s NS in Lurgybrack, and Scoil an Tsratha Mhóir in Glendowan must also be progressed as soon as possible.”
“All these schools are within 10 miles of each other and they are coming under serious pressure from overcrowding.”
“I know that the projected enrolments for St Eunan’s College, Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal, and Scoil Choilmcille are growing year on year so the urgency of their needs is growing as time goes on.”
“St Eunan’s holds such a historically significant place in the town and it attracts students from a very large catchment area. While its extension is in early architectural planning currently, it must be moved on to construction without delay. The school has produced a number of high profile politicians over the years and now the Government has an opportunity to give something back.”
“I have been in regular contact with the boards of management from each of these schools and I have arranged deputations for them all with various Ministers over the last 2 years or so.”
“But what we need to see now is action. I have spoken frankly with Minister O’Keeffe about the Letterkenny case and I have told him that this is one of my top priorities. The population of the town is growing all time yet it is not receiving the priority it deserves from the school building programme.”
“Minister O’Keeffe has assured me that Letterkenny will be a priority for him when making allocations in the next School Building Programme.”
“I will continue to press this issue with him until we start to see satisfactory movement on a number of the schools requiring investment,” concluded Niall Blaney TD.
