25 October 2019
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
File photo of Aindreas Moynihan TD
Cork North West TD, Aindrias Moynihan has questioned the Taoiseach on the commitment given by the Government that there would be a new secondary school in Ballincollig.
Deputy Moynihan said it wasn’t good enough that parents are put through unnecessary stress each year making applications to over-subscribed local schools not knowing if their child would be accepted. He asked the Taoiseach when the project will progress.
He explained, “A new secondary school for Ballincollig was promised over a year and a half ago by the then education Minister, Richard Bruton. As it stands, no progress has been made and the process of identifying a patron hasn’t even begun.
“Parents in Ballincollig, Ballynora, Ovens, even out as far as Aherla, are finding it extremely stressful trying to get places for first years for the year ahead in local schools.
“My understanding is that a site can only be identified following the appointment of a patron. If the Government is to meet their target of opening the school in 2021 then they need to hurry up and get moving.
“Enrolment for 2021 will be taking place this time next year and parents need to know what the plans are for this new school. Will it be completed on time? who will the patron be? what ethos will the school follow?
“The Minister for Education needs to get the process of finding a patron underway and he needs to put it to the top of his list”, concluded Deputy Moynihan.
