Bray Comhaltas and Square One affected by the uncertainty over Educate Together
AS NORTH WICKLOW Educate Together campaigns for a new school building, Bray Comhaltas and Square One are among the members of the community affected by their uncertainty.
Both the Irish traditional music organisation, and the theatre group, had the use of the former Coláiste Ráithín building on Florence Road.
That came to an end when Coláiste Ráithín moved to its new school and the Florence Road building was shut. The old building needs to be assessed for future use, and the secondary school was no longer able to facilitate the groups due to the public-private partnership nature of their new facility.
Gerry O’Donnell of Bray Comhaltas said that they lost five weeks, having suddenly found themselves without a home. He said that they were very close to ceasing to be altogether, until North Wicklow Educate Together provided them with space.
Principal Robert Browner said that they are very happy to accommodate both of the groups within the Putland Road school.
However, the lease is set to expire in April, and moves have not been made to start a new school building, as NWETSS prepares for its first Junior Certificate exams.
Staff and parents went to Dublin last Thursday to protest at the gates of the Dáil. They said that there has been an ‘appalling lack of action’ by the Department of Education in progressing the building of a new school.
While there are plans to build on the Bray Institute of Further Education campus on Novara Avenue, KWETB have deferred a vote on whether to allow the development, seeking more information from the department.
Labour’s Dáil candidate for Wicklow Jack O’Connor said that the Minister for Education had not given a timeline regarding the provision of permanent accommodation for the school.
‘I am deeply concerned that in the reply given to my colleague, Deputy Brendan Howlin, in a Parliamentary Question last week, the Education Minister gave no details as to when the permanent school will be ready for occupation.
‘ The Dáil Question put to the Minister outlined the serious situation that parents, teachers and students are now in with the lease on their temporary premises on the Putland Road due to expire next April. The Educate Together Secondary School - like all secondary schools in the country - are preparing their students for the Junior Cert next May but the cloud of uncertainty is ever in the air as they have no idea what will happen when the lease runs out,’ said Mr O’Connor.
‘ The reply from the Minister just outlined the information that is already in the public domain but no assurance or comfort has been given to the local community. I have now asked the Labour leader to table a further Parliamentary Question to the Minister seeking further clarification as to when the North Wicklow Educate Together will be in a position to move into their new permanent premises.’