Leitrim councillor calls for meeting with Minister in council chambers over new school
'The site is there, the kids are there, the teachers are there; all we need is the political will and the budget to get that school built. I'd like to see the minister explain themselves on this one.'
A Leitrim councillor has called on the Minister for Education and Youth Helen McEntee to come to Leitrim County County buildings and speak with the school principal, the board of management and other parties, in order to bring home the need for a new school in Carrick-on-Shannon.
Cllr Irene Guckian Rabbitte called on the council, with the agreement of my fellow Carrick MD county councillors to write, to the Minister of Education with a view to arranging a meeting with the Minister in the council chambers, with the school principal, Board of Management and other interested parties to express the urgency of the situation regarding the construction of a new national school for the town of Carrick-on-Shannon.
She told members: "I feel very strongly that the town of Carrick-on-Shannon deserve a new national school and I know that there is an awful lot of things in place; we have the site and it's now just about waiting for the Department of Education to make their move. It's going on a long time."
She said that school that is currently in place, is "very much a fire hazard and a health and safety hazard and road hazard; they need to be together in one campus and need to have room to play and educated."
Cllr Enda Stenson supported the motion and said the situation is "hugely disappointing and it's down to the minister at this stage."
Cllr Sean McGowan also supported the motion saying that teachers, pupils and parents are "all anxious to progress because it's dangerous; the school is far too small and it is a big fight so really, it's up to the minister to give the go ahead."
Cllr Maeve Reynolds, chair of Carrick MD thanked the council for providing a site for the new school and "I know the four TDs for the Sligo/Leitrim area had a meeting with the school and have requested a meeting with the minister as well but I think it's good to keep it on the agenda."
Cllr Cormac Flynn also supported the motion saying that with a site procured, "the site is there, the kids are there, the teachers are there; all we need is the political will and the budget to get that school built. I'd like to see the minister explain themselves on this one."
Cllr Paddy Farrell also lent his support.