Senator Jimmy Harte has accused Sinn Fein and especially Deputy Pearse Doherty of blatant hypocrisy “when he is scaremongering local communities about the situation with rural schools”
The Sinn Fein Minister in the North John ODowd has closed two more rural schools in Co Armagh, said Harte.
Said the Senator: “To quote Mr O Dowd “In recent years, however, both schools have suffered from declining enrolments with only 10 children enrolled for 2011/12 in Aghavilly and only 16 enrolled for 2011/12 in Keady.
“I have therefore decided to close the schools as I am confident that the children’s educational needs can now be best met at alternative schools within the area.”
“I ask the public to consider the language used by Deputy Doherty who said on Highland Radio that “no one enters politics to close rural schools “but he should address that to his colleague in Stormont and await the answer.
” I have concerns but I will be talking to the Minister along with other Labour Oireachtas members to make the case for these schools and will work with him and the school reps to get a satisfactory solution, It’s not helpful for anyone to scaremonger ” said Senator Harte