Council accuses Hanafin of ignoring school project

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern is to be asked to explain why his Education Minister is refusing to reply to Cork County Council queries about a promise made by the Government five years ago to provide an extension for Clonakilty Community College.

Fine Gael, which holds the majority on the local authority, launched a stinging attack on Mary Hanafin yesterday for twice refusing to answer queries from the council on the subject.

Cllr Jim Daly (FG) said that on April 24, 2002, the then Minister for Education, Michael Woods, confirmed the appointment of a design team for the project, but since then it hadn’t been progressed one inch.

“I am deeply aggrieved by the attitude of the minister,” Mr Daly said.

He pointed out that following meetings in February and July of last year, the council had written letters to Ms Hanafin seeking clarification on the issue but each time she’d refused to reply.

His party colleague, Cllr Paddy Sheehan, repeatedly tried to bait the Fianna Fáil benches.

“It’s taken five years and she still hasn’t appointed a design team.

“ It’s an insult to the people of Clonakilty,” Mr Sheehan said.

A rapid response came from FF’s Cllr Donal O’Rourke who claimed that progress had been made.

Mr Daly said that as late as yesterday morning he had asked Cork County VEC what the position was, and they had replied that they had received no sanction to appoint a design team for the project.