Immediate Action Needed on Clonakilty & Summercove School Building Crisis
Issued : Saturday 17 April, 2010
Labour Party Senator for Cork South-West, Michael McCarthy, has called on the Minister for Education & Science, Mary Coughlan, to take immediate action to progress the long overdue extension to Clonakilty Community College and the new school building for Summercove N.S.
Speaking to the Labour Party National Conference Senator McCarthy said, ‘The situation Clonakilty is absolutely ridiculous. This Fianna Fail lead Government has, for years, blatantly ignored the blight of the students, staff and parents of Clonakilty Community College.
‘Cramped rooms, overcrowding, and poor extra curricular facilities have made it increasingly problematic for teachers and students to work and study.
‘This school extension is badly needed and despite many promises this Government has failed to deliver.’
Senator McCarthy continued, ‘There is a similar story in Summercove. This National School is grossly overcrowded, with a large number of prefab classrooms taking up much needed space in the school yard. The staff, parents and children have been waiting for proper accommodation for years.
‘In this day and age Minister Coughlan should be ashamed to stand over this situation. It is nothing short of arrogance and ineptitude on the part of the Government, successive Fianna Fáil Ministers and the Department.
‘I am calling on the Minister to take immediate and real action to progress these projects. They are a priority for the people of Clonakilty and Summercove and they should be a priority for our Government.’
ENDS
