Cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council, Cllr Frankie Keena, has expressed his complete dismay following confirmation received at this week’s sitting of Athlone-Moate Municipal District meeting that a representative from the Department of Education will not attend a future meeting of elected public representatives to discuss Athlone’s education infrastructural needs.
Speaking to the Athlone Advertiser Cllr Keena stated that it is almost two years since he first raised a motion looking for a representative from the Department of Education to attend a Municipal District meeting to discuss this pertinent issue.
“The current status is that certain primary and secondary schools in the Athlone area are at full capacity and some others are operating from old buildings. This, coupled with the fact that the population of Athlone is predicted to grow significantly by 2030, raises a personal concern regarding the availability of school places over the next short few years. I do feel that immediate action needs to be taken to provide some new schools.
“To be fair Marist College recently received good news from the Department of Education which allows the secondary school to prepare plans for a complete new school build. While this is welcome news there is also a need to look at our primary school facilities. Therefore, I requested a Department official to speak with the members online to discuss this issue.
“It was so frustrating that we had not received an appointment date from the Department and this has now been exasperated even further when it was confirmed that Minister Norma Foley would not be attending any future meeting of the Athlone-Moate Municipal District to discuss plans for the future of education in our town.
“This reply is so disappointing and if the Minister is not in a position to attend, a deputation on behalf of the Department of Education should address the members in this regard.
“Athlone, as a Regional Growth Centre, deserves to be given the opportunity to meet and discuss such educational matters of concern with Department representatives.
“It has now been decided to correspond with the Minister again requesting her to send her Junior Minister and her relevant officials to attend our next meeting,” Cllr Keena stated.
