‘Not good enough’: Disappointment as Minister fails to commit on new Leitrim school building

Disappointment was expressed by all councillors at January’s meeting of the Carrick-on-Shannon Municipal District following correspondence from the Minister for Education in response to a motion submitted by Cllr Irene Guckian Rabbitte regarding the long-running campaign for a new school building for Scoil Mhuire.

The motion, brought forward by Cllr Guckian Rabbitte in September 2025, sought a meeting in the council chambers with the then Minister for Education, Helen McEntee TD, alongside the school principal, Board of Management and other interested parties, to highlight the urgency of the need for a new national school building.

At January’s meeting, councillors heard correspondence from the office of the current Minister for Education, Hildegarde Naughton TD. The letter outlined background information on Scoil Mhuire, noting that it was formed through the amalgamation of Marist National School and St Mary’s National School.

It also referenced previous engagement by the former minister with local representatives and stated that she “has acknowledged the ongoing local discussions concerning a proposed new school building for Scoil Mhuire.”

The correspondence added that the Department of Education would continue to “engage with the patron and Leitrim County Council as part of its ongoing review of school requirements in Carrick-On-Shannon.”

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It also noted that, in the interim, two modular projects are located on the site of the former St Mary’s National School under the Department’s modular programme. In addition, it referenced a capital allocation of €7.55 billion announced in July for the Department of Education for the period 2026 to 2030.

However, the letter did not commit to a visit to Leitrim to meet with councillors and school representatives, as requested in the original motion, nor did it outline any concrete timeline for a new school building.

Addressing the meeting, Cllr Guckian Rabbitte said she was “very disappointed” with the response. “Carrick-on-Shannon deserve and need a new school for all the boys and girls,” she said.

“It’s not good enough for Carrick-on-Shannon as the main town in Leitrim,” she added. She also expressed concern that the situation should not be used as a “political football.”

“I think it’s a patch up job in every way and while it might get them through a few months it’s not enough,” she said.

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Other councillors echoed these concerns. Cllr Flynn highlighted that the issue has been ongoing for almost a decade and said that the lack of an ASD unit in a town the size of Carrick-on-Shannon is a “disgrace.” He also noted that overcrowding is forcing some parents to send their children by bus to schools in other towns, including Carrigallen.

“The Department has time and time again overpromised and completely underdelivered and not delivered at all,” he said.

Cllr Maeve Reynolds urged councillors to continue applying pressure at national level. “I think it’s imperative on all of us to get onto Oireachtas members whatever way we can. We need to lobby wherever and whoever we can,” she said.