Dept Ed schools lack of engagement

Green Party Councillor Lourda Scott has called for urgent clarification from the Department of Education and Skills (DES) in response to the schools crisis in North Wicklow.

Scott says: “The critical issue with secondary school places and lack of suitable buildings has been ongoing in the area for some time. We have North Wicklow Educate Together Secondary School (NWETSS), open since 2016, now moving between two lots of temporary accommodations and no sign of a permanent solution.  CCA in Kilcoole was built to cater for 500 students and is currently accommodating approximately 780 in temporary accommodation. The newly opened Greystones Community College (GCS) was informed two weeks before it was due to open in a new primary school, that the building couldn’t be certified and they are currently in the top floor of a tennis club. There has been no clarification from the Department as to the issue with the building or when it will be resolved. There is still no update on the acquisition of a permanent site for GCS, even though a full year has passed since the school was given sanction to go ahead. Not to mention the severe lack of special classes in the area, which is compounded by the lack of adequate accommodation.

I am contacted on a regular basis by parents who are stressed and frustrated as they try to figure out where they may get a place for their child to start secondary education. The Department’s lack of communication and action on these matters has made a bad situation a lot worse. This is no way to treat parents or children as they navigate this period of change.”

Scott continues: “Department officials have been invited to meet with Council officials on this matter. I have pushed for this to happen many times but there has been no response. I have asked numerous parliamentary questions of the Minister for Education, written to the Minister directly and contacted her office through Green Party Education spokesperson Senator O Reilly, but all to no avail. The recent statement from DES following a meeting with KWETB officials has again provided zero clarity. 

The Department of Education is failing our community. We are in a crisis situation as numbers applying for secondary school are expected to increase over the next few years. This has been highlighted on many occasions.  The lack of engagement on this problem is concerning to say the least.

We urgently need a strategic overview regarding secondary school provision in North Wicklow with specific timeframes on the proposed extension for CCA, a quick build for the new Greystones Community College and resolution of when and where NWETSS will be permanently located. Special needs classes should be provided as a matter of course in all schools.

I urge anyone affected by these issues to please contact me directly and I will collate to send to the Minister’s office.