Cork school build still on course

The Department of Education still intends to build a new home for a gaelscoil on Cork’s northside but says it has to complete the acquisition of the site from the city council before work can begin.

The department has also confirmed it is in talks with Catholic bishop of Cork and Ross John Buckley about the use of a nearby school building in Mayfield “for education purposes” when it becomes vacant this summer. However, it said it has no plans to relocate Gaelscoil an Ghoirt Álainn to the facilities of Scoil Eoin Aspal, which will amalgamate with another Catholic primary school later this year, although it is not certain if this rules out any temporary move.

The gaelscoil’s board has told parents it fully expects to remain in its temporary accommodation in prefabs next to the Tank Field until the new school is built on part of the field, which is owned by the council.