Mayo primary school pupils staging protest outside Dáil Éireann
by Conor Curran in Dublin
Pupils of Castlebar Educate Together National School are protesting at the gates of Dáil Éireann over the delay in the construction of a promised new school building.
They, along with teaching staff, have taken their campaign to Leinster House following over two years of deadlock with the Department of Education.
They were met by Mayo TD, Minister of State Alan Dillon, who has been very supportive of the school's efforts to provide a new school facility at the old Hat Factory site at Newport Road in Castlebar.
The pupils are holding a banner which reads: 'Educate Together - Not Apart. Deliver our promised school.'
A statement issued by the school this morning expressed frustration at having to make a six-hour round trip to Dublin "to highlight how badly we have been treated."
"A standard acquisition process is no solution to dire accommodation needs," it added.
The school opened in temporary accommodation in Cavendish Lane in 2016 with twelve pupils and continued to grow into a three-campus school with 124 pupils today.
Following school board engagement with the Department of Education, Minister Norma Foley visited the school in September 2022 and while visiting, acknowledged that the buildings were inadequate.
Minister Foley promised a new school building would be built.
In early 2023, the school board forwarded potential public and privately owned brownfield and greenfield sites to the minister’s department as requested.
With the assistance of Minister Alan Dillon, a representation from the school met Minister Foley in Leinster House on May 29 last.
Board chairperson Yvonne Coyne explained: "Since that meeting, there has been no movement by the department.
"We are very frustrated that over two years on from the minister’s promise, a new school site has not been identified."
A school board commissioned report by OMD Design consultant engineers into the suitability of the school’s current buildings has reinforced the view of the board, staff and parents that the buildings are not, and have never been, fit for purpose.
Staff at Castlebar Educate Together have raised the dire working conditions with the Irish National Teachers' Organisation.
Added Ms. Coyne: "Families and staff in Educate Together have no choice but to escalate our campaign as it is clear the seriousness of our situation is not being heard by Minister Foley or her department.
"Our school board, staff, children and parents are today bringing our voices to the gates of Dáil Éireann.
"Hopefully they will return with a commitment - not a promise - and it will be a great day for all students wanting a needing this permanent facility."