Tuairisc ar Chruinniú Poiblí|Public Meeting Report

I Lathair

John Halligan TD, Paudie Coffey TD, Ciara Conway TD, agus an Seanadóir David Cullinane agus an Comhairleoir Seosamh Ó Conbhuí.

Bhi leithscéalta

Maxine Keoghan, Méara na Trá Móire, agus John Deasy TD.

Coimriú

D’fháiltigh an Príomhoide, Daithí de Paor, thar cheann an bhoird bainistiochta agus do mhaígh sé go raibh díomá géar ar phobal na scoile de bharr nach raibh Gaelscoil Philib Barún luaite ar liosta na Roinne do thógáil go ceann cúig bhliana. Dúirt sé gur ioróineach an scéal é go raibh litir factha ag an scoil an tseachtain céanna ag ceapadh ailtirí agus foireann dearaidh.

Labhair John Halligan agus luaigh sé cruinniú a bhí aige leis an Aire Ruairí Quinn inar ardaigh sé scéal na scoile seo. Dar le John ní raibh an tAire ar eolas faoi sonraí na scoile.

Labhair Páidí Ó Cofaigh agus luaigh sé a thacaíocht do chas na scoile ag dul siar go dti an uair gur ardaigh sé ar gcás i 2008 ss tSeanad. Bhi diomá air nach raibh an scoil ar an liosta tógála. Ní raibh sé den tuairim go n-athrófaí an liosta ach d’fhéadfadh an scoil a bheith curtha isteach muna féidir dul ar aghaidh le scoil eile ar an liosta má bhíonn airgead ar fáil.

Labhair Ciara Conway, TD, agus do mhaígh sí go bhfuil an tAire ar eolas faoin scoil. Luaigh si a ceangal pearsanta leis an scoil agus go raibh díomá géar uirthi chomh maith ar fheiscint an liosta di.

Do luaigh an tSeanadóir Daithí ó Cuillenain gur ardaigh sé cás na scoile sa tSeanad an Mhairt seo caite agus go mbeidh sé faoi chaibidil arís aige an tseachtain seo chugainn.

Labhair John Kindlon, Priomhoide Scoil na Croise Naofa thar cheann an INTO agus luaigh se tuairiscí an ESRI i leith ricahtanaids cóiriochta do scoileanna.

Ina chaint do mhaígh an Comhairleoir Seosamh Ó Conbhui a thacaiocht do iarrachtai tuismitheoiri na scoile foirgneamh buan a fháil.

Thar cheann foireann na scoile do labhair Múinteoir Caitríona Ni Chuirrín agus áitigh sí na deacrachtaí praicticiúla a bhain le múineadh i scoil réamhdhéanta.

I measc tuismitheoirí a cháin cinneadh na Roinne bhí
Donagh de Bhard, Aileen NÍ Cheallaigh, Jim Heylin, John Hayes; Nelly Ni Chuidithe, Jonathan Moore

Ag an deireadh chinn na teachtaí agus an Seanadóir a bhi i láthair go n-éascóidh siad mar ghrúpa cruinnú leis an Aire Ruairi Quinn a thúisce gur féidir.

Attendees

Paudie Coffey TD; John Halligan TD; Ciara Conway TD; Senator David Cullinane; Councillor Joe Conway

Apologies

Maxine Keoghane, Mayor of Tramore; John Deasy TD

Meeting Summary

All gathered were welcomed by the Principal, Daithi de Paor, on behalf of the Board of Management. He stated that the school community was greatly disappointed by the school’s omission from the DES list for school building projects to go to construction over the next five years. It was ironic, he said, that this week the school was informed that architects had been finally appointed to design and build a Gaelscoil at Crobally Upper.

John Halligan, TD, said that he had met the Minister Ruairí Quinn on the matter during the week and he did not seem to be aware of the circumstances pertaining to the school.

Paudie Coffey spoke and stated his longstanding support for the school’s struggle for a permanent building going back to when he raised it in the Seanad in 2008. He was disappointed that the school was not include in the list but did not feel that this could be reversed. The school might be included in the list at a later date if a project failed to progress.

Ciara Conway stated that she was personally connected with the school as she had attended Naíonra Philib Barún. She said the Minister was aware of the school’s circumstances.

Senator David Cullinane said he had raised the matter in the Seanad on Tuesday last and would do so again the following week.

John Kindlon, Principal of Holy Cross school citing the ESRI report on school buildings and the unsuitability of prefabricated classrooms.

Councillor Joe Conway reiterated his support for the school community in its struggle to get a permanent building.

A number of parents spoke and expressed anger and disgust at the treatment of the school by the Minister and his department. Among the speakers were: Donagh Ward; Nelly Cuddihy; John Hayes; Jim Heylin; Aideen Lynch; Jonathan Moore; Elaine Kelly

Caitríona Ní Chuirrín, spoke on behalf of the staff and cited the practical difficulties with teaching in a prefab.

Two pupils, Lumi Kanwei and Finn O’Connor read a letter written by the 6th class outlining their objections to prefabs. Finn remarked on the size of the newly built hall in Holy Cross NS where he had recently visited.

The meeting concluded with a joint undertaking by the attending public representatives to ask the Minister, Ruairi Quinn to meet with them and a delegation from the school as soon as possible.