If the Government is serious about providing a new primary school in Doughiska, then people in the area should not have to wait four years for it to be built.
This is the view of Independent Cllr Declan McDonnell. He has welcomed the decision by Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe to build a new primary school in Doughiska, but he is concerned that the earliest completion date for the development is 2012.
Cllr McDonnell has described as “very strange” that the announcement for the building of the school is made four years ahead of the completion date, particularly as the site is already in the ownership of the VEC and outline planning permission has been granted.
The Galway City East councillor is now accusing the Government of using the building of the school as an election gimmick for the Local Election.
“The next General Election will have taken place before the school is ever actually opened,” he said. “There is also a danger, in view of the recent worsening economic situation, that this school could be pushed out even further.”
Cllr McDonnell said that if the Government is serious about providing schools in the Doughiska area, the date for completion should be brought forward.
“In light of the current economic situation we also need to safeguard against a situation whereby the opening of a new school in Doughiska would reduce the numbers attending the other local schools in Mervue, Renmore, and Briarhill.”
Cllr McDonnell said the people of Doughiska need a focal point for the community and a school could be one of them but they “cannot wait years for it to materialise”.
He also said that a new school should not produce a situation where it takes away pupils from the other local schools.
“The entire project should be evaluated in light of the demographic profile of the area,” he said. “Following a re-evaluation, if the Department of Education deem this school is necessary, it shouldn’t be left for another four years to complete.”
