Parents take fight for Cork school to streets
The parents’ association and teachers of Gaelscoil an Ghoirt Alainn on Cork’s northside are planning a major rally in the city centre next Saturday to press the Government to deliver the project.
“We want to highlight the conditions the children are being taught in, and the conditions the teachers have to work in — they are scandalous really in this day and age,” committee spokesman John McLoughlin said.
“The prefabs are in a deplorable condition, with leaks and rodents.
“The prefabs are un-heatable in winter and you can’t cool them in summer. And the sewage system is totally inadequate.
“With a new Government now, and especially with the Labour Party’s promises on education, we need to ensure we are forefront in their minds.”
The long-running campaign for the school has been controversial and divided the community.
The 292-pupil, 15-teacher school has been based in temporary prefabs on the grounds of Brian Dillon’s GAA club, next to the Tank Field amenity, for more than a decade. The Department of Education unveiled plans in 2005 to build a new 16-classroom facility on part of the field.
On March 14, 2005, Cork’s city councillors agreed unanimously to sell the land to the department at an agreed price, but subject to planning.
When the issue came before councillors again, they agreed unanimously to realign sports pitches for the GAA club to ensure that no amenity land was lost.
In July 2007, councillors voted 15 to 13 to rezone the site to allow the school building proceed but as a two-third majority was needed, rezoning was not granted.
The department appealed to An Bord Pleanála, which in March 2008 overturned the decision, granting planning permission.
That decision was unsuccessfully appealed by residents fighting to save the Tank Field amenity.
But it emerged in September 2009 that if the project went ahead as planned, power lines would cross over one of the proposed new playing pitches.
Former city manager Joe Gavin confirmed a new planning application would be needed.
Negotiations have been ongoing since between school and city authorities, the department, Brian Dillon’s GAA club, and local residents to find a solution.
The department is still working on a new application but parents say their patience has run out.
Principal Réamonn Ó Riain said it has been a very frustrating experience.
“All we ever wanted was proper accommodation for the children,” he said.
Next Saturday’s march will set off at 11am from the Lapp’s Quay Boardwalk, proceed along Parnell Place, Merchants Quay, down St Patrick’s Street and finish at Bishop Lucey Park.
