Donegal Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher has invited the Education Minister Richard Bruton to visit local schools which are awaiting upgrade or sanctioning of grant aid for improvements.
Deputy Gallagher is calling on the Minister to grant urgent approval for repair projects at seven schools: namely Scoil Adhamhnain, Luinnaigh, St Eunan’s NS Raphoe, Abbey VS, Donegal Town, Scoil Mhuire NS, Creeslough, The Royal and Prior Raphoe.
Minister Bruton is due to visit Letterkenny next week for another school opening, which has prompted Deputy Gallagher to call on him to see first-hand the conditions that other staff and students face in schools which are ‘overcrowded’ and in buildings ‘not fit for purpose’.
In a written invitation to the Minister, Pat the Cope stated: “as you are aware I have being raising the issue of a number of Donegal schools for some time and I am most anxious that we make progress in our improvement plans for these respective schools.
“I understand that you are to attend a school opening in Letterkenny on the 23rd of February, can I invite you to visit the schools in question, especially Gaelscoil na gCeithre Maistrí in Donegal Town, the Abbey Vocational School in Donegal Town and St Mary’s National School, Stranorlar in the case of these schools new buildings are required as their current building conditions is just not acceptable.
“Indeed St Eunan’s College in Letterkenny urgently requires major improvement and would require your personal attention also.
“The other schools which are in urgent need are Scoil Adhamhnain, Luinnaigh, Gaoth Dobhair, St Eunan’s National School Raphoe, Scoil Mhuire National School, Creeslough and The Royal and Prior School Raphoe – all of these schools either require additional accommodation or improvement works.
“If by chance you do not have the time to visit all of these schools perhaps a delegation can meet with you and your officials at a location of your choice”.
“I greatly appreciate your busy schedule but you like I, understand too well the importance of seeing first-hand the current state of repair of these buildings, schools and the future needs of the children currently going through their education in these schools.
“Many of these schools are overcrowded and under considerable pressure of numbers and the buildings are no longer fit for purpose.
“It is in that context that your personal intervention is urgently required in order to move these projects forward to construction stage. I would also expect the Minister of Education to meet the ETB while in Letterkenny,” concluded Pat the Cope.
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