Decision to progress Kingscourt school project criticised

Questions were raised at the recent meeting of CMETB over why Kingscourt’s Coláiste Dún an Rí is to receive a major extension when Inver College in Carrickmacross has been waiting three decades for a new building.

Cllr PJ O’Hanlon asked the executive why the Kingscourt school was “getting an extension to a new school, which was only opened”.

He considered it “strange” an extension is needed to the school, which only opened its doors to students in 2016.

“What has happened at Inver College in the last 30 years? Nothing.”

During the meeting, he highlighted a number of separate plans for the busy south Monaghan school over the past three decades, none of which have ever taken place. Included in them was a plan for a completely new building, which was shelved by the Department of Education due to a low number of students.

The comments of the Carrickmacross councillor drew the ire of Kingscourt’s Cllr Clifford Kelly, himself a staunch campaigner for the provision of a secondary school in the Cavan Town.

“Kingscourt now has around 700 students. The numbers are expected to increase by over 160 next year. It’s a necessity and it’s a huge success.”

However, Cllr O’Hanlon noted Inver College too is expected to see massive increases in students over the next two years. He accepted a new modular unit containing a number of new classrooms was opened at the school in recent weeks but highlighted the need for a completely new school building to cope with demand. His points were accepted by Director of Operation Services and Development Berni Power who said she “knows the urgency” for the Carrickmacross project.

Board member Martin McBreen asked if the designs for the extension at Coláiste Dún an Rí were “good for the future” and could cope with future demand.

“We have a good analysis up to six years ahead. We have a very good handle on demographic growth but we can’t predict our market share,” responded Director of Schools Paddy Flood.