New primary school in Carrick-on-Shannon now a major priority

Built in 1952, extended in 1983 and amalgamated in 2013, Scoil Mhuire in Carrick-on-Shannon is not now fit for purpose in its current form.

A technical report from the Department of Education paints a damning picture of a school principal, staff and pupils having to cope in packed undersized classrooms with major defects and issues identified that need immediate attention.

Since the amalgamation in 2013 with the boys national school, Scoil Mhuire has struggled to cope across two campuses.

A severe shortage of recreational and parking space, the associated traffic chaos at both sites at arrival and departure times, as well as antiquated buildings that are simply too small and outdated to handle the growing numbers enrolling in the school all point to the urgent need for a modern new school to be constructed on a new site elsewhere in the town.

A campaign by the school's board of management, supported by the parents' association, to have a new purpose-built school has continued for many years but patience has now run out and a demand is being made for a new school to be provided.

“The need is urgent, the time is overdue,” a spokesperson said.

Scoil Mhuire Campus 2 is located at the old boys national school in Summerhill

The campaign for a new school on a new site and the urgency for a new school to be built in the town is laid bare in the details of a technical report by the Department of Education and the views of the school's principal and board of management.

Since the amalgamation of the two schools under one management in 2013 the school has doubled its pupil enrolment.

Various groups including the board of management, staff, parents and local politicians and others have been campaigning for a new school.

The Department of Education conducted a technical report on both existing sites and concluded it would not be possible to provide an 18 or 24 classroom primary school on the existing site(s). Both sites were considered too small to cater for the entire school.

Defects which need urgent attention were identified and some of those have been addressed under emergency works.

Additional prefabs have been supplied and more are on the way to cater for increased enrolments.

The report highlights the principal’s concern about the size of existing teaching spaces in the building when compared against the Department standard room layouts / sizes (classrooms, offices and SET Rooms).

The classrooms in question are 41m sq (approx. half the standard 80m sq size) with the SET rooms being approximately half the size of a standard SET Room – an issue further exacerbated by Covid 19.

Existing storage and corridor spaces have had to be converted into SET Rooms to cater for 1 to 2 SET teaching resulting in “inner rooms” having to be accessed through existing rooms.

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A number of other defects / issues were identified including ventilation, visible settlement cracks and cracking along the corridors, lack of air flow and water ingress under the floor, no staff or visitor parking evident at one site.

Provision of prefabs as additional spaces while welcome, continues to reduce already limited play and outdoor areas.

The report did not address the public road areas, congestion at arrival and departure times, traffic and other risks in those areas.

The report did result in emergency works being completed, including a new roof on part of one site, to address the evidence of roof leaks throughout the original 1952 and the 1983 extension.

The report states the defects / issues which require urgent attention should be dealt with immediately. Concurrently with this, a report should be commissioned which investigates all the remaining defects / issues identified.

“The board of management do not see need for any further report(s), but agreed over six months ago that if the Department needed an additional report to be conducted simultaneously with the emergency work, let them get it and then move on with the new school proposal,” a spokesperson said.

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“The board of management has over the years since amalgamation fought hard to have facilities improved and with the Department cooperation through emergency works, summer work and occasional exceptional funding ensured the best possible facilities for the pupils and staff.

“The BOM fully recognises that those facilities and working conditions are well below what should be available to the parents and above all to the staff and pupils who daily provide and benefit from the best possible education with the resources available.

“The time of waiting for a new school for Scoil Mhuire should now be past. Large numbers of pupils have come to and gone through the school since the amalgamation.

“The work of staff and results achieved, working under the limited circumstances detailed above is fully recognised, appreciated and valued by all – BOM, parents and community. The school continues to respond to community needs and other needs as they arise – indeed recently where numbers allowed in one or two classes additional Ukrainian students have been enrolled.

“We are thankful to the Local Authority and community for the constant support in our ongoing campaign.

“Pupil enrolment numbers have doubled to the point where some of the existing classes have no possibility for any further enrolments. Additional facilities such as support units (ASD) etc are required. Proper outdoor playground is essential. Department standard size classrooms and SET rooms are a reasonable request.

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“We have waited patiently, provided the best possible education with the resources available. We have heard and seen the excellent school accommodation and facilities that are provided by the Department once there is a commitment.

“The Local Authority are now developing/updating the Carrick-on-Shannon Town. The need is urgent, the time is overdue.

“We hope the Department, local public representatives, etc, recognise the long wait and patience shown, the excellent work done / achieved (particularly by staff, management and pupils) with the limited resources, the frustration experienced to date by many in this quest and that all will now work to ensure a new school for Scoil Mhuire receives the Department commitment in the very near future and becomes a reality. Additional reports, etc are not required.

“The staff, pupils and the loyal supportive community we are privileged to serve have waited long enough.

“The DES official stated in the technical report, ‘I would conclude that both existing sites are too small to cater for the entire school’ should be accepted by all, a new site acquired and a new school provided.”