Cork schools set to benefit from dormant accounts

HUNDREDS of primary schools in disadvantaged areas will benefit from a €6 million dormant accounts package announced yesterday.

Over 40 Cork schools will get a €600,000 slice of the package which will help fund a total of 447 separate projects nationwide to improve schools’ outdoor play facilities.

Projects include repairing and improving hard-surface play areas, building basketball, soccer, tennis courts, pitches and running tracks.

The money can be used to mark playgrounds for games like snakes and ladders and hop-scotch.

Schools can also use the money to buy play equipment, swings, slides, and climbing frames, and to paint murals.

Cork city schools to benefit include Strawberry Hill, Sunday’s Well, St Joseph’s Convent, St Vincent’s Convent, Naomh Eoin Easpal, Scoil Colmcille, Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal Boys, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Maria Assumpta junior infants, Gaelscoil an Teaghlaigh Naofa, School of the Divine Child, Scoil an Athar Maitiú, Réalt na Maidine, Scoil na Croise Naofa, and Scoil Íosagáin.

County schools getting grants include St Matthias NS in Ballydehob, Mocomhog NS in Kealkil, Iosef Naofa in Fermoy and Scoil Ghobnatan in Mallow.

Green Party city councillor, Chris O’Leary welcomed the announcement.

“Schools and communities will benefit greatly from this,” he said.

The funding was announced by Education Minister Mary Hanafin, and the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív.