The urgent need for new primary and secondary schools Midleton and Carrigtwohill was raised in Dail Eireann by David Stanton, Fine Gael TD for Cork East. Deputy Stanton asked Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn TD, to outline his efforts to increase school accommodation in the two towns.
“I am sure many people are aware that a total of five new school projects proposed for Midleton and Carrigtwohill in the Department of Education School Building Plan for 2014-2015. These are a new school for Gaelscoil Mhainistir na Corann, a new school for Midleton Education Together, a new second level school in Carrigtwohill, and a new premises to accommodate the amalgamation of the two primary schools in Carrigtwohill, Scoil Chlochair Mhuire and Scoil Mhuire Naofa and another new primary school in the area.
“In recent years, there has been very large growth in this area of East Cork and primary and secondary schools are under pressure to meet the demand for school places. I share the concerns of parents, teachers and Boards of Management the progress needs to take place with regard to these five new schools without delay which is why I have, again, raised the issue with Minister Quinn whose response was as follows:
“As the Deputy will be aware, the area referred to has been identified by my Department as one of the areas where, due to demographic changes, it is projected that there will be a requirement for significant additional school provision at both primary and post-primary levels over the coming years.
In that context, a total of 5 school projects, involving 4 primary school projects (one of which involves an amalgamation of 2 schools) and one post primary project, are proposed for the area to meet demographic growth and have been included in my Department’s five year plan, subject to suitable sites being acquired.
I can advise the Deputy that my Department, working in conjunction with Cork County Council, has identified possible permanent sites to facilitate planned building projects for the schools in question. However, whilst negotiations towards the acquisition of such sites are ongoing, I am not in a position due to the commercially sensitive nature of these negotiations to give further details at this time.”
Deputy Stanton concluded by saying that he hopes site negotiations will be concluded very soon, so that planning, tendering and construction can commence on these much needed new schools.
