Proper planning could fix building crisis for schools in developing areas

PROPER planning could help solve the building crisis for new schools in developing areas or for multicultural communities, an Oireachtas committee heard yesterday.

Educate Together, an umbrella organisation for multi-denominational schools, criticised the Department of Education and Science policy that a school is not considered for permanent accommodation until after a probationary period of temporary recognition. Because of this stance, parents must organise rented and often unsuitable accommodation before the department gives any assistance.

“This inherently leads to unplanned, haphazard developments that cause a predictable succession of accommodation crises,” said Paul Rowe, chief executive of Educate Together.