No sign of green light for Gaelscoil
October 19, 2015
A year after being told contracts for a proposed new Gaelscoil in Fermoy had been finally handed over to the Department of Education planning permission has yet to be granted for the new facility.
The lack of progress on the project has once again been highlighted by the Gaelscoil de hÍde New School Action Group, who have questioned why the process is taking so long.
“To say we are frustrated at the ongoing delay would be something of a major understatement. We were delighted with the promises from local politicians the new school would be opening in September 2016, even if it was two years behind schedule,” said group chairperson Vivienne Dempsey.
“But here we are in October 2015 and there is still no green light from Cork County Council planning authorities for the proposed new development. Neither, does it seem, is there any sense of urgency in driving this project from the Department of Education or from the local TD’s who have championed their roles as friends of education,” she added.
Council planners were to have ruled on an application for the proposed new, three-story school on a four-acre site at Duntahane last month.
However, that decision was deferred pending a request for further information across five different aspects. The department’s architects have until next February to submit the requested information
Vivienne pointed out that the decision can only be made after submissions from locals concerned about traffic implications have been considered. This could push it back by another few months.
Meanwhile, it is understood the paperwork for the site will not be signed off by Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan until her department receives confirmation that planning permission has been granted.
“It is difficult to understand how architects commissioned by the Department of Education could have submitted a plan that was deemed insufficient to enable the planning authority to make a decision on it,” said Vivienne.
“With a general election imminent we will make sure candidates fully understand just how important this issue is to the people of Fermoy when they coming knocking on our doors.”
www.independent.ie
