TD’s son breaks ranks with father over school

AT least one O’Keeffe loves a north Cork town.

Ned O’Keeffe TD may have told the people of Rathcormac he wasn’t going to do anything for them because they didn’t vote for him in the European elections, but his son is more supportive.

O’Keeffe Snr told locals campaigning for a new school that he wasn’t going to help, but his county councillor son, Kevin, is fully behind them.

Newly elected FG councillor Patrick O’Driscoll, who lives in Rathcormac, sought backing yesterday from colleagues to put pressure on Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe – no relation to Ned – to approve funding for a new school.

He said the current school, built in 1948, had nine portacabins, which was totally unacceptable.

The Department of Education purchased a four-acre site in 2006, but the minister is refusing to provide money for a new school.

“Unfortunately not all Fianna Fáil public reps have given their support,” Mr O’Driscoll said.

The obvious reference to Ned O’Keeffe saw those on the FG benches jeer in the direction of his son, Cllr Kevin O’Keeffe.

O’Keeffe Jnr replied that he had an obligation to help the people of Rathcormac, because he was the second highest vote-getter in the town in the recent local elections. “I will help,” he said.

Cllr Frank O’Flynn said the council should lobby the Minister for Education.

“Why don’t you ask him [Batt O’Keeffe] yourself?” retorted FG’s Cllr Kevin Murphy.

Many other councillors promised to lend their support to the campaign.

Mr O’Driscoll said it was costing the school nearly €100,000 to rent the portacabins, which was a terrible waste of money.

Cllr Noel Harrington (FG) said the county council had rezoned land for housing in Rathcormac and the subsequent population boom was responsible for the school’s predicament.

Cllr Jim Daly (FG) agreed with him and said it was an example of a lack of joined-up thinking.