BALLISODARE IN SHOCK AS LOCAL SCHOOL IS SET TO CLOSE

THE decision of the Catholic Education Irish Schools’ Trust (Ceist), to close St. Mary’s College, without warning and without giving the people of the Ballisodare community an opportunity to make a case for retaining it can only be described as shocking and unacceptable, Cllr Declan Bree (pictured right) told ‘ The Sligo Champion.’

“To send a text to parents requesting them to attend a meeting and then without any advance warning to announce at the meeting that the Board of Ceist had decided to close the college, can only be described as disrespectful to parents and to a community that has supported the college down the years.

“It has now become clear that there has been a significant decrease in enrolment over the years and this certainly has implications for the future sustainability of the college.

“However, what I cannot understand is why, over the past number of years, did the Board of Ceist not convene a meeting in Ballisodare to highlight the problem and to seek the support of parents and the local community in terms of increasing enrolment?

“Why did Ceist wait until the 11 th hour and then without any warning or advance notice announce that the college was closing?

“Indeed the question arises as to what does Ceist intends to do with the valuable college properties when it is closed.

“I fully understand that the college is not under the direct control of the Department of Education and I also understand that it is a mat- Board ter for the of Ceist whether remains open or not. as to the college

“I am also aware that Board of Ceist is controlled by five Catholic religious congregations, including the Sisters of Mercy.

“In this context it must be recognised that the final decision to close the college has been made by the Sisters of Mercy and their colleagues in the Catholic Education Irish Schools’ Trust.

“I am therefore calling on the Sisters of Mercy and the other religious congregations on the board of Ceist to reverse the decision to close the college, so as to allow parents and the Ballisodare community adequate time to increase enrolment in the school,” said Cllr Bree.