Hanafin aides highlight need for new school in Kinvara

THE Department of Education is due to build a new second-level school in Kinvara, Co Galway — where the Mercy Order controversially plans to close its school.

The recommendation has been made by senior officials to Education Minister Mary Hanafin in a report on school requirements for the south Galway area.

The Commission on School Accommodation carried out a survey of needs in the region in light of a growing population.

The issue was of particular concern to parents and teachers in the Kinvara area, as Seamount College, an all-girls school in the town, is due to close in 2012. The Mercy Order, who are trustees of the school, initially decided not to take any new enrolments when it announced the decision in 2006, but recently agreed to continue taking new students each year up to closure, under pressure from the Department of Education and local campaigners.

The school accommodation report published yesterday recommends that a mixed gender second-level school for about 800 students should be provided in Kinvara for the school year beginning in September 2012.

This will come as a relief to parents of children in the south Galway and north Clare area, as dozens of girls would otherwise have to travel up to 15km further to the next nearest school in Oranmore, Co Galway.

The commission said the Department of Education should identify and acquire a site as the school will be required for the 2012/13 school year, to coincide with the closure of Seamount College.

The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland welcomed the plans, having succeeded in overturning the trustees’ move to disband the board of management when announcing the closure. “We commend the efforts of teachers, parents, students and others in the community to ensure the retention of a second-level school in their community. Their achievement demonstrates the vital role which schools play in their communities,” said general secretary John White.

A 600-place second-level school is recommended for Claregalway by 2016, while extensions are recommended for St Calasanctius Secondary School in Oranmore and Gairmscoil Mhuire in Athenry. A larger site is proposed for Athenry’s Gaelcholáiste an Eachréidh.

The commission also recommended a new site for Presentation College in Athenry and that the Department of Education reserves a further site in the town for an 800-student second-level school in the long term.

An extension to Gort Community School is proposed, to increase capacity to 1,000 students.