The school community of Gaelscoil na gCeithre Máistrí in Donegal Town are making a last-ditch effort to save their new school project in the next 24 hours.
Plans for a new school building were suddenly stalled two weeks ago after the government paused funding for 58 school projects nationwide.
Gaelscoil na gCeithre Máistrí was plunged into a race against time, as their contract for tender for a new school expires tomorrow.
The primary school, which has approx 70 students, has been housed in prefabs for the past 24 years.
The new school building was approved in 2020. Work has been ongoing since then to arrange the construction of an impressive new build. The contractor, staff and supplies were ready to go in a matter of weeks.
Funding was then stalled indefinitely due to rising construction costs.
An emergency meeting was held at the school last night where parents and staff voiced their urgent concerns over the future of the new school project. A social media campaign was launched afterwards, calling on Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Education Minister Norma Foley to reverse their decision.
“We need answers and solutions,” the mother of a Senior Infants pupil told Donegal Daily.
“Our tender is due to expire tomorrow and if the builder then decides to take on other work we could be back to square one with the building out for tender and more cost to the tax payer.”
