Cllr Christy O'Sullivan
Funding for schools in West Cork
West Cork schools are set to benefit under the two schemes recently announced by the Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin. Commenting on the announcement, Christy O’Sullivan, Cork South West Fianna Fáil candidate said, “I am particularly delighted to see so many schools in my own constituency benefit under these announcements.”
The schools listed include Scoil na mBuachaillí, Clonakilty; Ballinspittle National School; Dunderrow N.S., Kinsale and Rathmore N.S., Baltimore are to be allocated funds under the Permanent Accommodation Scheme, whilst Derrinachara NS, Dunmanway; Scoil Phadraig Naofa, Dunmanway; Reenascreena NS, Rosscarbery; Lisheen NS, Skibbereen and Carrigboy NS, Durrus, Bantry are to benefit under the Small Schools Scheme.
Meanwhile, Mr. O’Sullivan said he was awaiting an announcement that the Gaelscoil Chloch na gCoillte, would be included in the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2007. Following a number of years in temporary accommodation, the Gaelscoil Chloch na gCoilte secured a site at Beechgrove, Clonakilty in 2006 and Mr. O’Sullivan is hopeful that funding will be announced soon to enable a purpose designed school to be built.
The funding announced by Ms. Mary Hanafin at the beginning of March, totalled €87 million for building projects in 250 schools across the country, which would deliver 289 additional mainstream classrooms and an extra 175 special education rooms with the vast majority of additional capacity being directed at the primary sector. Cork received the highest allocation with €11,343,000 being allocated for 30 projects under the Permanent Accommodation Scheme (PAS) and Small Schools Scheme (SSS).