Gaelscoil Mhainistir na Corann and Midleton Educate Together await new schools
David Stanton, Fine Gael TD for Cork East has, again, raised the urgent need for sites to be secured and construction to begin on new schools for Gaelscoil Mhainister na Corann and Midleton Educate Together.
“Both these primary schools urgently need new premises to cater for the huge demand for places in the coming years”, said Deputy Stanton. Gaelscoil Mhainistir na Corann has been located in a temporary facility in Midleton Community Centre since 1999 and simply cannot continue there for much longer. Planning has been applied for at a site in Baneshane outside Midleton, but has not been granted as yet. I am very anxious at this stage to ensure that the planning process and site acquisition is concluded without delay. Construction needs to begin urgently to allow the Gaelscoil to meet demand in September 2015.
“Midleton Educate Together school began operating in 2008 and is currently located in a temporary premises at Market Green. However, this site is not large enough to allow for adequate expansion to cater for demand for places from parents and the Department of Education are in the process of securing a site for a new school. Like the Gaelscoil, this project is due to go to construction this year and I am anxious that the site acquisition process be concluded soon.
Responding to Deputy Stanton’s questions regarding progress with the two primary schools Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O’Sullivan TD stated:
The Carrigtwohill/ Midleton area is projected by my Department’s Forward Planning section to undergo significant increases in educational demand in the coming years. In that context, projects to provide permanent buildings for Gaelscoil Mhainistir na Corann and Midleton Educate Together National School were included in the five year school building programme. In December I announced that the projects for these schools are expected to proceed to construction this year.
In line with the Memorandum of Understanding which formalises the local authorities’ part in securing sites for educational use, my Department has worked with Cork County Council to identify suitable sites for these two schools. Sites have been identified and the conveyancing process is underway in both cases. In tandem with completion of the conveyancing process, the projects are being progressed under the Department’s Design and Build programme. A project manager has been appointed and plans for the schools are
underway.