Claregalway parents welcome assurance on school opening date

By JACQUELINE HOGGE PARENTS of up to 150 children in the Claregalway area have welcomed confirmation that a new second level school for the village will be open and ready for its first intake of students in September next year. The Department of Education and Science confirmed this week that temporary accommodation will be secured in order for the school to open on time, and that efforts were continuing to identify a suitable site in the area for the construction of a permanent school building. Independent TD Noel Grealish said the statement by the department was reassuring as was confirmation from Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn that the delay in finding a site would not delay the school's opening.[private] Tireless campaign 'This is good news for the parents and children of Claregalway and for the committee who have been campaigning tirelessly for this much-needed school for some time,' said Deputy Grealish. 'Once the school is opened it will meet the educational needs of the growing population in Claregalway and the surrounding areas. 'This school was on the Department of Education's capital building projects list for construction in 2014/2015 and there was some concern that the school would not open until then, but I am delighted that the Minister has confirmed that the school can open next year.' A statement issued by Claregalway Second-Level School Parents Committee also welcomed the announcement and said there were several options in terms of temporary accommodation for the new school. Committee members Paddy Tobin and Michael Hannon have held discussions with various public representatives, officials from Galway County Council and the Department of Education in recent months and were pleased with the progress of such talks. 'Galway County Council is working with the Dept to identify and acquire a suitable site in accordance with the schedule indicated in the Minister's announcement of new school construction projects in March,' the statement reads. 'This schedule identifies that the permanent new school will be built in Claregalway in 2014/15. County Galway VEC is the only applicant for patronage for the Claregalway School and Minister for Training and Skills Ciarán Cannon has confirmed that following the evaluation process, the department expects to announce the appointment of all new school patrons nationally in late May. 'As soon as the new patron is appointed, the parents committee will invite the patron to meet the parents in Claregalway to discuss the enrolment process for the new school. Based on numbers signed up during the recent patronage application process, the new school is expected to open with up to 150 children enrolling in first year in September 2013.' Labour TD for Galway West Derek Nolan also welcomed the announcement, which, he said, would alleviate fears regarding the future of secondary education provision the area. 'This facility is vital for the educational needs of children in Claregalway,' he said. 'There are approximately 1,700 children attending primary schools in Claregalway and the surrounding areas who will require a secondary school place near their home when they come of age. Without this new school, pressure to secure a secondary school place would be immense as the teenage population grows. 'I am delighted that the Department of Education has provided clarity on this issue. There was some confusion as to when it was intended to begin enrolment and it is important that 2013 remains the target.' [/private]