Taoiseach calls for 'full and comprehensive consultation' over Cork schoolsamalgamation plan

Norma Foley said the decision-making authority for any amalgamation or change of status is the patron of the school
Taoiseach calls for 'full and comprehensive consultation' over Cork schoolsamalgamation plan

The location of the new school will be the existing site of the North Presentation school in Faranree, with the school itself becoming co-educational from next September. File picture via Twitter

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has called for a “full and comprehensive consultation” over a controversial merger of two secondary schools in Cork city.

Speaking in the Dáil on Wednesday, Mr Martin was responding to calls from local TDs who are demanding a pause to the merger of St. Vincent's Secondary School and North Presentation Secondary School, on the north side of Cork city.

The Taoiseach said the issue is basically the patrons and trustees of both schools have set this process of amalgamation in train.

“A fundamental principle of partnership in education is consultation. Parents are clear that they have not been consulted enough in respect of this proposal,” he said.

Mr Martin said parents should be consulted because of a lot of concerns arising.

“My view is that there should be full and comprehensive consultation with the parents in respect of this issue because a lot of concerns have arisen,” he said.

“There are broader concerns in terms of curriculum choice and so on in terms of the two schools and the number of pupils in each school. There are issues there but, nonetheless, there should be comprehensive consultation all around,” he added.

Cork North Central Fianna Fáil TD Pádraig O'Sullivan said there has been a complete lack of consultation with stakeholders. “I welcome that a meeting will take place and hope there will be a resolution or further deliberation on the next stage of the process that is to be followed. The only document I could find that is relevant to managing the amalgamation of secondary schools dates back to 2001. It is a serious issue that we need to address,” he said.

A tense Dáil discussion on the matter last night heard calls for the amalgamation to be blocked.

The location of the new school will be the existing site of the North Presentation school in Faranree, with the school itself becoming co-educational from next September.

However, parents have strongly objected to the plans, with students from St Vincent’s telling the Irish Examiner they have been left "heartbroken" and "completely blindsided” by the planned move.

Each of the four TDs from Cork North Central called on Norma Foley, the Minister for Education, to pause the amalgamation. Speaking in the Dáil, Fianna Fáil TD Pádraig O'Sullivan called on the minister to engage with the trustees and patrons of both schools.

“To say the communication has been poor is an understatement. To say that a consultation process has been undertaken, at least an adequate one, is misleading.

This decision has been foisted upon people late in the day, denying students of enrollment options elsewhere, evicting students of the four ASD classes, the LIR hub, from a building where they are immersed in a whole-school experience to a prefab in a car park potentially.

There was one Zoom meeting for parents about the move, he added.

Fine Gael TD Colm Burke said there had been “very poor” communication with the parents, particularly in St Vincent’s, and with the parents of children who have additional needs. “I think the whole amalgamation should be paused.” 

Mr Burke added that he had written to the trustees of the school this week, who advised him they intend to engage with the board of management of the school and the teachers by the end of this week.

Solidarity TD Mick Barry also called for the amalgamation to be paused. “Major decisions should not be made without the consent of parents, teachers and students. Not only is there no consent in this case there is, in fact, strong and active opposition.

“It's clear to me the opposition to these proposals is only going to grow from here. Minister, you must at the very least, at the very least. Pause the process here. Think again.” 

Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould called on the minister to reverse the decision to close St Vincent’s. “St Vincent’s is a public school, funded publicly and the buck stops with you. This proposal is having a very negative and upsetting effect on many students.” 

Norma Foley said the decision-making authority for any amalgamation or change of status is the patron of the school. “Where a school is considering an amalgamation they should consult with their students, parents, staff and broader communities.”

Ailish Hickey (left) and Laila Abdelnapy at a Save St Vincent's secondary school rally at the South Mall in Cork city recently. Students from St Vincent’s have told the Irish Examiner they have been left "heartbroken" and "completely blindsided” by the planned move. Picture: Denis Boyle
Ailish Hickey (left) and Laila Abdelnapy at a Save St Vincent's secondary school rally at the South Mall in Cork city recently. Students from St Vincent’s have told the Irish Examiner they have been left "heartbroken" and "completely blindsided” by the planned move. Picture: Denis Boyle

Information provided to the Department of Education by the patrons indicates that there was a thorough local consultation process undertaken between March of 2021 and February of 2022, she added.

“The department has been informed that there are ongoing discussions between the two school patrons who will in fact be meeting again with their respective schools on Thursday in relation to the matters raised.

“I am conscious though that very recently, specific concerns have been raised by the school communities,” she said, adding that it is “hugely important” everyone in the school community has an opportunity to express their thoughts on the process.

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