Local TD Deirdre Clune has urged the Minister for Education to take a more active role in providing a new primary school in Ballygarvan where the growing need for a new school is now at a critical level.

I have been in contact with Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe and his Department’s officials repeatedly over the last few months seeking progress on the building of a new school in Ballygarvan. The Department has now confirmed to me that it has agreed to appoint a Design Team and is currently finalising a framework panel of Consultants from which Design Teams will be appointed.

Despite this welcome development issues still remain about the ownership of the site. Minister O’Keeffe has informed me that this will have to be resolved between the parish and the local authority and he has claimed that he has no formal involvement in this. I believe that the Minister has a responsibility to help move this project forward and regardless of whether he has a formal involvement or not he should play an active role in resolving this obstacle to progress.

Parents and teachers in Ballygarvan have completely lost patience with these ongoing delays. The school will face increased pressure in September when another generation of school children start and it would be a disgrace if these children like their older brothers and sisters spend their primary education in prefabs.