The Doughiska/Roscam area - one of the fastest growing areas in the city - is in dire need of new primary and secondary schools, but has been “excluded” and “ignored” by the Department of Education.
This is the view of Fine Gael Cllr Brian Walsh. On Monday the Minister of Education Batt O’Keeffe announced 15 new school projects throughout the country. However schools for Doughiska were not included in the capital building programme.
“Yet again the minister has ignored the Doughiska/Roscam area,” Cllr Walsh told Galway First. “The people of Doughiska had been promised that a temporary school would open in September, yet this was reneged on by Fianna Fáil.”
Cllr Walsh, a member of the Galway City VEC, together with councillors Declan McDonnell and Tom Costello, have fought for the past four years to secure a site in Doughiska on behalf of the VEC.
The site adjacent to Tur Uísce received outline planning permission earlier this year for a schools development, yet funding has yet to be provided by Government.
“I have been advised by the Department of Education that a further round of new schools will be announced later this year,” said Cllr Walsh. “I am urging the Government parties to ensure Doughiska is included. At the very minimum the government should be preparing to provide a temporary facility for next year.”
