Scoil Mhuire welcomed Minister for Education, Hildegarde Naughton on Friday, as the campaign for a new school building continues. She became the fourth Minister for Education to visit the school in the past ten years but unfortunately none of them have provided any long term solution or a new school which is now on the list for over a quarter of a century. During her visit, Minister Naughton met with pupils, staff, parents and members of the Board of Management to discuss the serious challenges facing the school and the urgent need for improved facilities. School representatives outlined the difficulties caused by the current building, including overcrowded classrooms, limited space, the dangers posed by the school’s proximity to a busy road and ongoing health and safety concerns. Parents and staff stressed that children are being taught in conditions that are no longer fit for purpose and called for swift action from the Department of Education. Sixth class pupil, Grace Hardiman, wrote and read a heartfelt letter to Minister Naughton, sharing the concerns of students from a child’s perspective. In her address, she spoke about her hope that future generations of pupils will have the opportunity to learn in a safe, modern school with the facilities they deserve. Among the issues raised were the lack of running hot water, ongoing sewerage problems that have resulted in raw sewage entering the school grounds, electrical faults and the absence of a safe evacuation area in the event of an emergency. The school community described the current situation as unacceptable and warned that urgent intervention is needed to protect the welfare of pupils and staff. A major boost to the campaign has come through the generous offer of a site from a local landowner, who has pledged to donate land for the development of a new school. The proposal has been widely welcomed by the community as a unique opportunity to provide modern, safe and sustainable facilities for future generations. Principal Mrs. Peoples thanked Minister Naughton for taking the time to visit the school and hear directly from those affected by the current conditions. “We are grateful to Minister Naughton for listening to our concerns and seeing first-hand the reality facing our school community,” she said. “Our pupils deserve to learn in a safe, modern environment where they can thrive. We now have an incredible opportunity thanks to the generosity of a local landowner who has offered a site at no cost to the Department. The community is united behind this project and ready to move forward.”
