Educate Together 'hopeful' Mayo school issue will be resolved by next year

An Educate Together spokesperson has said they hope issues which have delayed the planned opening of a new school in Mayo next week will be resolved by next September.

Last night it was announced the Castlebar school, in the premises of the old Burren National School would not be opening as planned this year in a row over its location 8kms outside the town.

Educate Together has said it would struggle to get numbers to attend a school so far from Castlebar.

Spokesperson Jarlath Munnelly said today: "I am hopeful (of a resolution for next year). This is not about arguments between the Department (of Education) and Educate Together. It's about families having a right to pursue a particular kind of education for their children."

In a statement, Educate Together said: “The overwhelming majority of parents have told us that they will not send their children to Castlebar ETNS if it means accepting that the Burren is their ultimate intended school premises,” an Educate Together statement said.