Lack of secondary school places in the district

Green Party Councillor Lourda Scott has called for a meeting with the Department of Education in response to the critical lack of secondary school places in the district.

Scott says: “Last week parents in Kilcoole learnt that their children couldn’t get a place in their local school, Colaiste Craobh Abhainn (CCA) causing understandable upset and stress to the families involved. Unfortunately this is yet another story in a long line of poor forward planning decisions by the Department of Education. In Greystones many children are without a school for September. Last week, North Wicklow Educate Together Secondary School (NWETSS) announced that they can only accept 60 students going forward as they are forced to move into temporary accommodation again. The situation is even worse for parents of children with additional needs. There is only 1 special needs class providing just 6 places at secondary level in Greystones/Kilcoole. This is frankly disgraceful.”

Scott continues: “The population growth in the area has been predicted in the County Development plan, yet the Department of Education has abysmally failed to provide adequate school places for the community. We are now in a crisis situation as numbers applying for secondary school are expected to increase over the next few years. We need rapid progress on the proposed extension for CCA, a quick build for the new Greystones Community College and a speedy resolution of when and where NWETSS will be permanently located. Special needs classes should be provided as a matter of course in all schools.
“In light of this I have asked Wicklow County Council to invite Department of Education officials to meet, providing an overall strategy and concrete solutions for secondary education in the area. “.