Frustration and anger over delays in building classrooms

Frustration and anger are just some of the emotions responses experienced by teachers, school boards, pupils and parents across Co Cavan left waiting years in some cases for additional classrooms sanctioned by the Department of Education.

Cavan County Council is to write to the Minister for Education and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) seeking clarification on the delays and communication around same.

Proposing the motion at it’s November meeting, Cllr Brendan Fay (Ind) said the situation is causing “affects the health and well-being of both staff and pupils”.

Delays

He told those gathered on Monday last that a number of local schools had contacted him expressing “sheer frustration” over the delays. He revealed the newly appointed principal of Scoil Bhride in Killeshandra had spoken to him to plead the school’s case.

“She told me that it was with a heavy heart that she was speaking to me in the first place but that it was in good conscience that all those involved with the school could not accept what was happening anymore.

“A new extension was approved for the school in the 2021/2022 school year, which included the sanctioning of a special classroom for autism,” continued Cllr Fay.

“Planning for the project reached stage one. As time went on, the school accommodated two new special classrooms for children with autism in an effort to meet the needs of the community. The stage one planning for the new extension has been frozen in time.”

Plea

Cllr Fay went on to say the principal has pleaded her case with the Department on numerous occasions. He also highlighted how the plans indicate clearly the need for more space and how it currently doesn’t have adequate resources.

“Mixed communication has been given to the Board of Management at the school and it has received nothing in writing nor has it been allocated any funding for the new build.

“All school building projects have been frozen for three years regardless of need. The NCSE should not have sanctioned new classes in schools such as in Scoil Bhride with no rooms to accommodate those classes. And now a circular has been released by the Department requesting all schools to open classes if there is a need for them in their area.”

Cllr Fay told the meeting there appears to be a complete lack of communication between the various departments on the issue.

“We can only assume at this stage that the situation with classrooms is going to escalate,” he fumed, adding “all of this after a give-away budget”.

Resources

“Adequate space ensures the well-being of staff and pupils at our schools and communities are going above and beyond to raise funds; in Scoil Bhride’s case, the community raised over €20,000; that’s €20,000 that should have been funded by the Department of Education. This should not be happening in the year of 2024 in Ireland.

“Extensions have been granted and the plans are being left waiting by the Department. I want to know why this lack of communication is happening in 2024 - at a time when we are supposed to be awash with money?” asked Cllr Fay.

Cllr Damien Brady (SF) seconded Cllr Fay’s motion.

“There’s great excitement when announcements are made for schools and yet it’s so frustrating for them to have to wait for so long with nothing happening,” he added.