City Irish school rebuild shelved

Published Thursday, 24 June 2010

News that the planned redevelopment of a Belfast Irish medium school has been shelved has left parents and staff "devastated".

They had previously received repeated assurances that the dilapidated building of Scoil na Fuiseoige in Twinbrook on the outskirts of the city would be replaced.

Principal Elish O'Neill says the school found out unofficially on Thursday from local councillors, ahead of an announcement at Stormont from Education Minister Catriona Ruane on Tuesday.

She told UTV: "Local councillors warned us that the news wouldn't be good, simply because of the financial situation.

"Our view was that due to the level of need of our project money would be reserved."

Classes have been taught in mobile buildings at the school for the past 13 years. The principal stressed that wear and tear on these facilities during that period has left them unsuitable for use.

"People only have to be here to see the school, but to be with us in school to experience the school is at another level altogether," she said.

"We're in 100% mobile buildings and to teach a class in this day and age in mobile buildings...

"We have been in them for the past 13 years at this stage and they're in a terrible state."

She also claims that parents have been forced to send their children to other schools - both Irish and English language - after the repeated disappointment of the delays for refurbishment.

"We can't cope with the level of interest," she says. "We're due next year to take 32 children into primary one, but we don't know where we'll put them.

"Our numbers have been steady over the past few years, our peak intake is at 147.

"Some parents have decided to go and send their children to other, beautiful-looking schools now instead.

"We want the DOE to recognise the need and get the school built."

Comments

9 Comments

Ulysses32 in Belfast wrote (1,061 days ago):

Let's hope that the media cover today's protest at Stormont with as much vigour as they would, and have done, for any other school in need of appropriate accomodation.

Charlie in USA wrote (1,062 days ago):

Peter, you obviously didn't receive much education as your writing skills are only slightly above illiterate. Why don't you learn English before you lambast bi-lingual kids.

Jane in Belfast wrote (1,064 days ago):

Parents have a choice about where they send their children. The parents have chosen this school because of its continual success in all areas - education, sport, drama and music. The fact that it is an Irish Language school is absolutely NOTHING to do with the obvious need for a new build, nor does it have any impact on Catriona Ruane's decision. To try and reject the need for a new building based on the fact that there are 'other schools' in the area is missing the point. We want our children to go to THIS school, but they deserve to be taught in proper facilities.

Peter in Belfast wrote (1,064 days ago):

There loads of other schools in the area for these children to go to. they other reason why Scoil na Fuiseoige and other like them complain is because the are irish base, These schools are a waste of tax payers money and the should all CLOSE. Ms Ruane trying to impose her own polictal doctrine on are children. Money should go into other proper schools , restration of are Histrical buildings or the enviroment

Ulysses32 in Belfast wrote (1,064 days ago):

13 years without proper school facilities.....13 years. Meanwhile the unused, substantial piece of land sits idle beside the school. It is a testament to the hard work of the staff and the support of the community that this school continues to perform and exist. And long may it continue to exist, in spite of the hardships it may have to endure.

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