School talks continue in bid to resolve issue
THE Department of Education has committed to providing temporary accommodation as soon as possible for Greystones Community College, as its lease at the tennis club extending just to October 31.
The school started its life in Greystones Tennis Club on August 28, rather than in the newly built premises of Greystones Community National School. 64 first year pupils currently attend the secondary school.
The national school remains on the site of Greystones Rugby Club. The Department did not accept possession of the school as planned in July, which they said, was due to safety testing issues.
Contractor Western Building Systems disputed that.
‘ The Department is taking appropriate steps to ensure that is completely satisfied that the building is fit for handover prior to accepting it,’ they said in a statement. ‘ There is currently an engagement underway between the Department and the Contractor in this regard under the contract.’
Department of Education officials met with Kildare Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB) and Greystones Community College on Wednesday, September 23, to discuss the school’s current arrangements and the immediate and future accommodation requirements for the school.
The Department has agreed to look at all potential options in the area in the short and medium term ahead of the school’s
move to its designated permanent site in Charlesland, Greystones.
This will include the provision of appropriate temporary accommodation, including specialist rooms, as quickly as possible as the current school year progresses.
The Department will also meet shortly with KWETB and Greystones Community National School to discuss that school’s immediate accommodation requirements.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said: ‘We are continuing to work closely with the Department of Education to try
and get this issue resolved.
‘The predicament of the GCC students who are having to use Greystones Tennis Club is not sustainable. I know their lease is up there on October 31 and the school need additional facilities to be able to offer a full curriculum.
‘ The Department have said it is seeking alternative accommodation and this will include the provision of appropriate temporary accommodation including specialist rooms.
‘We will be pushing the Department to do everything it can to facilitate Greystones Community College as soon as possible and to get the issues with the new school building resolved so Greystones Community National School can finally leave the rugby club’.