Leitrim national school pupils forced to cross busy road and learn in converted toilets amid new school plea
For over a decade, the parents association, staff and the school community have been calling for a new school building on a single campus to replace the current Scoil Mhuire.
The need for the new school on a green field site emerged as the girls and boys national school in Carrick on Shannon merged in 2013. However, the school remains on two campuses despite the school population doubling in that time.
Since the amalgamation, the school has fallen into a state of disrepair and campaigners say not a single classroom is fit for purpose.
Despite the poor conditions, no commitment has ever been given by the Department of Education for a new school building.
Recently, John Campion Davey, assistant to Senator Nessa Cosgrove, visited the school and met with some members of the New School Committee.
Mr Davey saw first hand the conditions within the school and said the facilities within each building are 'severely inadequate', with a technical report from the Department of Education issued several years ago calling the school building "sub-standard".
Mr Davey said 'I had the privilege of being shown around the two campus Scoil Mhuire, Carrick-on-Shannon, by members of the staff and parent body.
'I had been asked to attend by Senator Nessa Cosgrove to see how she could help with their campaign for a new school building.
'The most glaring issue is immediately evident.
"The school is spread across two different campuses, the former girls school and the former boys school.
"I heard how Scoil Mhuire had been one of the earlier proponents of amalgamations, they embraced the change enthusiastically, yet they still exist across two campuses.
'Apart from the damage this does to a sense of a school identity, it is a hazard for children crossing roads to go from one school to the other.
'It also results in the ridiculous situation of many parents dropping off and collecting children from each campus every day for multiple years,' said Mr Davey.
Mr Davey observed the school has 'gone out of its way' to cater for the increased number of students but building a new school is the 'logical thing to do'.
'The PE Hall is tiny, for the numbers of children attending, having been subdivided to provide additional learning spaces.
"The school has gone out of its way to welcome increased numbers of children from many different cultures and backgrounds many of these have language needs.
'As in all schools, there are more children with additional needs, which must be met.
'I saw converted corridors, store rooms and even rooms which had formerly housed toilets and hand washing facilities converted into Special Education Needs classrooms.
'The two campuses dating from 1953 and 1963 must be a nightmare to heat in winter, and to keep cool in a hot summer.
"The savings on energy costs alone, never mind the environmental impact, must make construction of a new school the logical thing to do.
'Despite the very real challenges faced by the school, the commitment which the school Principal, Staff and Parent body show to the children is phenomenal,' said Mr Davey.
Earlier this year, it was confirmed that funding was granted to provide a two mainstream classroom extension for Scoil Mhuire.
While the funding was welcomed, it does not provide a long term solution.
"While the promise of two new modular classrooms over the summer is welcome, in terms of learning space, it does nothing to address the core issues highlighted, and in fact will further reduce the amount of outdoor space available for play,' said Mr Davey.
"As an Early Years Educator, I am fully aware of the importance of having outdoor space for physical activity and play.
"It is a fundamental part of a child's holistic development, particularly their physical, emotional and social development.
'The school community are not campaigning for a new school to have a shiny new building to work from.
"They are doing it because they feel a real bond with the children and families they educate and care for.
'Inclusive practice is at the heart of everything that is done at Scoil Mhuire.
"The passion of the teachers and the happiness of the children to be at school is written all over them,' said Mr Davey.
Leitrim County Council has identified a suitable greenfield site close to the current school building and the school are happy with the proposed site.
Mr Davey continued, 'All we need now is for the Government to commit to funding the new building.
"Senator Cosgrove has committed to highlighting the need for a new school building, which has the support of all four local TDs, and will be hoping to raise the matter personally with the Minister for Education before the summer recess.
'Carrick-on-Shannon is the County Town of Leitrim, it is a fast growing town and it deserves a National School which reflects its developing and changing needs,' said Mr Davey.
A spokesperson for the school said, 'On Tuesday, June 17th, John Davey, assistant to Senator Nessa Cosgrove, met with some members of the New School Committee.
2The meeting went well, and John assured us he would pass on all information to Senator Nessa Cosgrove.
'We call on all politicians and members of the wider community to put pressure wherever they can to help us secure a new school for Carrick-on-Shannon.'
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Irish Independent
a day ago
- Irish Independent
Leitrim national school pupils forced to cross busy road and learn in converted toilets amid new school plea
For over a decade, the parents association, staff and the school community have been calling for a new school building on a single campus to replace the current Scoil Mhuire. The need for the new school on a green field site emerged as the girls and boys national school in Carrick on Shannon merged in 2013. However, the school remains on two campuses despite the school population doubling in that time. Since the amalgamation, the school has fallen into a state of disrepair and campaigners say not a single classroom is fit for purpose. Despite the poor conditions, no commitment has ever been given by the Department of Education for a new school building. Recently, John Campion Davey, assistant to Senator Nessa Cosgrove, visited the school and met with some members of the New School Committee. Mr Davey saw first hand the conditions within the school and said the facilities within each building are 'severely inadequate', with a technical report from the Department of Education issued several years ago calling the school building "sub-standard". Mr Davey said 'I had the privilege of being shown around the two campus Scoil Mhuire, Carrick-on-Shannon, by members of the staff and parent body. 'I had been asked to attend by Senator Nessa Cosgrove to see how she could help with their campaign for a new school building. 'The most glaring issue is immediately evident. "The school is spread across two different campuses, the former girls school and the former boys school. "I heard how Scoil Mhuire had been one of the earlier proponents of amalgamations, they embraced the change enthusiastically, yet they still exist across two campuses. 'Apart from the damage this does to a sense of a school identity, it is a hazard for children crossing roads to go from one school to the other. 'It also results in the ridiculous situation of many parents dropping off and collecting children from each campus every day for multiple years,' said Mr Davey. Mr Davey observed the school has 'gone out of its way' to cater for the increased number of students but building a new school is the 'logical thing to do'. 'The PE Hall is tiny, for the numbers of children attending, having been subdivided to provide additional learning spaces. "The school has gone out of its way to welcome increased numbers of children from many different cultures and backgrounds many of these have language needs. 'As in all schools, there are more children with additional needs, which must be met. 'I saw converted corridors, store rooms and even rooms which had formerly housed toilets and hand washing facilities converted into Special Education Needs classrooms. 'The two campuses dating from 1953 and 1963 must be a nightmare to heat in winter, and to keep cool in a hot summer. "The savings on energy costs alone, never mind the environmental impact, must make construction of a new school the logical thing to do. 'Despite the very real challenges faced by the school, the commitment which the school Principal, Staff and Parent body show to the children is phenomenal,' said Mr Davey. Earlier this year, it was confirmed that funding was granted to provide a two mainstream classroom extension for Scoil Mhuire. While the funding was welcomed, it does not provide a long term solution. "While the promise of two new modular classrooms over the summer is welcome, in terms of learning space, it does nothing to address the core issues highlighted, and in fact will further reduce the amount of outdoor space available for play,' said Mr Davey. "As an Early Years Educator, I am fully aware of the importance of having outdoor space for physical activity and play. "It is a fundamental part of a child's holistic development, particularly their physical, emotional and social development. 'The school community are not campaigning for a new school to have a shiny new building to work from. "They are doing it because they feel a real bond with the children and families they educate and care for. 'Inclusive practice is at the heart of everything that is done at Scoil Mhuire. "The passion of the teachers and the happiness of the children to be at school is written all over them,' said Mr Davey. Leitrim County Council has identified a suitable greenfield site close to the current school building and the school are happy with the proposed site. Mr Davey continued, 'All we need now is for the Government to commit to funding the new building. "Senator Cosgrove has committed to highlighting the need for a new school building, which has the support of all four local TDs, and will be hoping to raise the matter personally with the Minister for Education before the summer recess. 'Carrick-on-Shannon is the County Town of Leitrim, it is a fast growing town and it deserves a National School which reflects its developing and changing needs,' said Mr Davey. A spokesperson for the school said, 'On Tuesday, June 17th, John Davey, assistant to Senator Nessa Cosgrove, met with some members of the New School Committee. 2The meeting went well, and John assured us he would pass on all information to Senator Nessa Cosgrove. 'We call on all politicians and members of the wider community to put pressure wherever they can to help us secure a new school for Carrick-on-Shannon.'
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a day ago
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New education therapy service could be ‘transformational' for special needs pupils, says McEntee
A new education therapy service staffed with 90 therapists will start in 45 special schools from September. The new posts will be initially for occupational therapists and speech and language therapists. The service will provide individualised therapeutic interventions for children who need them. The service will be provided in special schools first, but will then be rolled out to mainstream schools, according to Minister for Education Helen McEntee . READ MORE The proposal is included in the Government's Actions in Education Plan 2025 , which will be announced on Thursday. The National Education Therapy Service will start recruiting to begin the full service from the start of the 2026-27 school year. Ms McEntee said the new service could be 'transformational for children attending our special schools, ensuring they have early and timely access to the services that they need. 'For children attending special classes in mainstream schools, the earlier sanctioning of these classes is central to providing clarity for them and their families.' She also wants a national survey of all parents of school-going and preschool children to determine what type of education they want to see for their children. This will look at the issue of patronage and what kind of schools parents want for their children. Ms McEntee said she will also be publishing a new Deis (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) plan to tackle educational disadvantage and take steps to address absenteeism. 'I will work with schools to reduce the costs they are facing and also work to reduce costs faced by parents, such as the cost of uniforms,' she said. 'Consultation with parents will be a key feature as I commence work to develop a new circular to tackle back-to-school costs.' The plan also includes 400 new special classes in mainstream schools and the roll-out of free schoolbooks to all schools. The shortage of teachers in schools is to be tackled by earlier access to permanent contracts, while allowing newly qualified teachers trained outside the State to apply for registration and complete their induction in the Republic. There are also plans for a new common applications system for school admissions to be in place in several pilot schools in 2026, which will end the need for parents to make multiple applications to schools. Absenteeism is to be tackled by monitoring children under the age of six who regularly miss school. The State does not monitor school attendance in those under the age of six. The Government will provide €9 million in funding to schools to support new measures to tackle mobile phone use. This is the same amount of money allocated for the controversial pouches, which were supposed to be provided for schools nationwide to keep phones during school hours. A new plan for Deis will be developed for those schools which have the highest level of disadvantage.
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
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I know it's traditional to wish those sitting the Leaving Cert exams all the best before those tests actually start, but how about now, when it hasn't quite finished? Looking at the timetable, I see a good few subjects have been done, and some of the remaining tests are pretty esoteric, but still: thoughts and best wishes to those still facing the LC. It won't be long now, believe me, when you'll be able to forget your test number rather than having it haunt you 40 years on. (085087246. Brr.) Count yourselves lucky you are not facing the exam next year, however, when there will be a new subject on the curriculum. Find below the first example of test papers in a whole new field I am proposing to the Department of Education: Cork studies. This is a deeper, richer examination of our heritage, one with a robust academic footing that takes cognisance of a history and context going back into the mists of (and so on in a similar vein for a while). It is also something of a response to a friend of mine who, while generally liberal on most matters, adopts a very strong Toryish line on one specific issue. People in Cork who are originally from other counties but who get their children to support their parents' counties rather than Cork, the place those children were born and raised and educated, a gross betrayal... (I once tried to point out this was dangerously close to Norman Tebbit's old cricket test: one of Margaret Thatcher's grimmer handmaidens, Tebbit asked if the children of immigrants to England supported their parents' countries in cricket games between those nations, but I didn't belabour the point. He gets a reddish light in his eye when he's talking about this). Anyway. Cork studies. We won't be jumping head first into the Leaving Cert, of course. Junior certificate examination first. If you're interested in getting a jump on the opposition, am happy to supply a sample JC test paper (ordinary level, but what harm). JUNIOR CERTIFICATE (ORDINARY LEVEL) 1. What is the first line of the second verse of The Banks? A. What is The Banks? B. 'Tis a beautiful land this dear isle of song. C. After all I really love you. 2. From Cork I go up to Dublin but I go - - Youghal. A. Across to. B. Over to. C. Down to. 3. Where is 98 Street? Off the Bandon Road and down to Noonan Road. Is 98 Street down the side of Lennox's? Down the side of Lennox's. Both of the above at the same time. 4. Everyone in Cork knows where the airport is. Where was it supposed to be located? A. Carrigtwohill. B. Nad. C. Castletownberehaven. 5. The most dangerous pedestrian crossing in Cork is: A. Where Victoria Avenue, Victoria Road, and Blackrock Road meet. B. Any crossing next to or near to the Elysian. C. Getting from Merchant's Quay to Bridge Street (any route). 6. Cork's natural enemies are: A. Kerry people. B. Dublin people. C. Ah, would you stop. Once you've taken this intermediate step you are then ready for the senior cycle (it should be noted here there will be no exemptions of any sort granted on any basis to any Leaving Cert student attending a Cork school). The questions below are from a sample paper which illustrates the multidisciplinary nature of Cork Studies. LEAVING CERTIFICATE (HIGHER LEVEL) MUSIC: In the song 'The Armoured Car' we are reminded that while glory is a fleeting sensation which vanishes in a heartbeat, a good dog is forever. Discuss this statement, developing your response with reference to the song of the same name. Bonus points for citing 'The Armoured Car's real name. ECONOMICS: The fragile cash-based economy of the North Monastery primary school was rocked by a devastating event in 1975, when a bottle of Cadet (red lemonade) and a bag of Tayto crisps moved beyond 5p. This made it necessary to possess two coins, not one, for this essential food combination. Track the effect of this price rise on the schoolboy economy with reference to the oil crisis occurring across the world at the time. ENGLISH: What is the greatest poem ever written about or in Cork? Use quotations in your answer, with special consideration to be given to references to The Rancher's Curse, A Nocturne for Blackpool, and Cúl an Tí. GEOGRAPHY: Where is the smallest hill in Ireland, easily accessible within Cork? Bonus points if the downstairs pub nearby, now long gone, can be named. ACCOUNTING: If a small shed on Patrick's Street is removed from its original location and abandoned in a yard until it starts to fall to pieces, how much should it cost to relocate and renovate that small shed years later in another part of Cork? Bonus points if a breakdown of the costs of filming said work can be provided. HISTORY: Examine the proposed location of the Event Centre, with reference to other facilities in Cork which might have been placed in more advantageous settings (Junior Cert students may recall pointed questions about the airport). Examine the proposed location of the Event Centre, with reference to other facilities in Cork which might have been placed in more advantageous settings. Picture: Larry Cummins Bonus points for any evidence of traffic congestion at the South Gate Bridge circa 1788, not at all likely to recur when the new centre is built. E NGINEERING: When the South City Luas is eventually installed, what tune should be played to soothe passengers, particularly when the Northside of the city comes into view? Bonus points for any combination of 'Southern Nights', 'South Of The Border', or 'Take Me To The River'. ART: The so-called 'Robot Trees' were supposedly introduced to Cork to help purify the air of the city, but are now recognised as one of the most audacious modern art installations of the 21st century. Cork's Robot Trees: Describe the levels of irony involved in this piece, how those pieces have forced more attention on the concept of a 'bench', and locate them in the pantheon of modern Irish art. Picture: Andy Gibson Describe the levels of irony involved in this piece, how those pieces have forced more attention on the concept of a 'bench', and locate them in the pantheon of modern Irish art. Bonus points for students explaining the persistence of bird poo on the remaining parts of the RTs. BIOLOGY: Account for the strength of the female bladder in Cork as evidenced by the lack of public toilets for same within the city centre. Bonus points for references citing personal experience without being too graphic. BUSINESS: If there are seven vape shops in Cork City for every citizen, then how are a) Corkonians ingesting more vaping products than the entire population of Los Angeles and b) how are all those shops turning a profit? Bonus points if accounts can be cross-indexed with those of phone repair outlets. The eagle-eyed may have noted the focus on examinations above rather than the syllabus itself. In an effort to reduce teaching burdens, this will be self-directed learning on the part of the students, absorbed through their lived experience in Cork. In other words, if they know, they don't need to be told. If they need to be told, they just don't know what it means to be from Cork.
