Cllr’s in spat over time frame for new Kanturk

School

THE lack of a firm commitment on a time frame for the proposed new school in Kanturk is not good enough and has cast doubt on whether work will start on the project next year.

That’s the view of Cllr Bernard Moynihan (FF) who said that letters from both the former and current Ministers for Education saying it was hoped the project would go to tender in the first quarter of next year “did not hold out much hope for the people of Kanturk.”

“I have to say, after all of the efforts made to get this project moving, that all we have are two Ministers basically saying that all going well the project will go to tender next year sounds to me like they are using diversionary tactics,” said Cllr Moynihan, speaking at Cork County Council’s November northern area committee meeting.

Cllr Timmy Collins (Ind) said he too was disappointed with the slow pace of progress on the issue, saying the fact that ground works had commenced on site did not mean work on the school itself had started.

“I want to see blocks being laid on site. Judging by the responses of both Ministers we could be looking at five years before we see a new school in Kanturk,” said Cllr Collins.

“I have to say this. Regardless of what Fine Gael councillors may say about work staring on the school in Kanturk next year, it won’t,” he said.

Cllr Gerard Murphy (FG) said he was “absolutely amazed at the negativity” directed towards what he said was positive news for the future of the school.

“So many different issues have been resolved around this project. It astounds me that we are again threatening the people of Kanturk that it will not go ahead. More progress has been made on this issue in the past 12-months than was made in the previous 15-years,” said Cllr Murphy.

“I am quite confident that it will go ahead and the tender process will commence early next year. Work has started on site and Cork County Council has committed to work that will facilitate the school. So for God’s sake lets just move on, get the job done and, I hope, have the new school up and running next September 12-months,” he said.

His party colleague, John Paul O’Shea, chastised Cllr Moynihan saying that “political jousting” on the issue was not helpful.

“We have a communication from Education Minister Joe McHugh that stays very clearly the project would be going to tender in the first quarter of 2019,” said Cllr O’Shea. “We all want to see this project go ahead and I am asking you as chair of this committee to be positive instead of creating uncertainty and negativity within the local community. To see political jousting on this issue is not helpful.”

For his part, Cllr Collins said he did not want to be accused of misleading anyone on the issue.

“I’m not, and its about time that the Fine Gael members here stood up and said they do not know when work is going to start on the school. After, all its apparent that two Ministers themselves do not know,” he said.

“People want to see the school built, but I’m not going to lead anyone up the garden path and say work will start next year. Nor am I going to let anyone here brainwash me,” he added.

It was agreed that the committee would write to Minister McHugh seeking clarification on when the project would go to tender and that a time frame for the project be put in place.