Cork East Fine Gael TD, David Stanton has been highlighting the need for new secondary and primary school places in Midleton and Carrigtwohill for many years. Figures from the Department of Education themselves suggest that in East Cork as many as 64 primary classrooms will be needed by 2015 and almost 2000 second level places in Midleton and Carrigtwohill alone will be needed by 2020.
“It is quite unbelievable, that according to RTE news reports, that the Department of Education may be giving back up to €331 million this year. This money was 50% of the School Building budget for this year, and it seems that it has still not been spent.”
“I am very concerned that East Cork may not have enough school places next year and coming years to cater for all the children requiring second level education. I have also been campaigning for the provision of a permanent site for the Gaelscoil and Educate Together school in Midleton, for new primary schools in Carrigtwohill, for an extension for St John the Baptist to Midleton, and extensions to primary schools in Youghal and Kilcredan. A suitable primary school to cater for children in Ballinacurra is also needed.”
“I hope the Government is not playing politics with this issue and that they are not planning to release all this funding on the eve of a general election. The only other explanation is that it is gross incompetence. Our school children deserve better”