Carlow councillors slam Department’s ‘really stupid report’ on future of two local schools

Two Carlow councillors have slammed what they described as a “really stupid” submission by the Department of Education on the future of two local schools.

The Tullow District Town Plan was discussed in detail at the March plenary meeting of Carlow County Council.

At the meeting, members were informed of a number of third party submissions made in relation to the plan.

In its submission, the Department of Education and Youth noted that “any potential increase in school places can be delivered with the expansion of existing facilities”.

However, this was disputed by Fine Gael councillor Fergal Browne, who argued that Scoil Náisiúnta Mhuire Lourdes and Scoil Phádraig Naofa could not be expanded.

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Cllr Browne said the two schools were “obviously not suitable for expansion for different reasons”.

He continued: “Am I right in thinking we rezoned land years ago when the Carlow MD and the Tullow MD was all one?

“That we had rezoned land on the Ballymurphy Road for a brand new school site, which would be the logical thing to do going forward.

“I’m not too sure if that has expired or is it still in the plans but I’m just curious, what are the plans for a new primary school?”

Cllr Browne added that this new school could be located slightly outside of Tullow, possibly on a new ring road.

In response, independent councillor Will Paton agreed that the Department’s assessment of the situation was incorrect.

Cllr Paton said: “I would say I wholeheartedly agree with your observation about what the Department said about the boys’ school and the girls’ school.

“It was written by somebody who has never visited Tullow. That much is obvious because had they had visited Tullow, they wouldn’t have written such a stupid report and I mean really stupid report.”

He continued by giving the example of when Scoil Náisiúnta Mhuire Lourdes was given funding for two special education classes.

Having received the funding, the school realised it had no room to build the classrooms and they were subsequently moved to Scoil Phádraig Naofa.

He added that that example “goes to show how stupid and silly” the Department’s submission was.

Cllr Paton, who was representing the Tullow Municipal District at the meeting, also responded to Cllr Browne’s inquiry regarding the rezoning of land.

He stated: “That plan didn’t proceed but the members of the Tullow MD did zone about 10 hectares for a new school at the rear of the Tesco and the rear of the new primary healthcare centre.

“So we have taken care of that - the members did rise to the occasion. We turned around and we actually zoned land for a future primary school in Tullow.”

In total, Carlow County Council received 13 submissions in relation to the Tullow District Plan.

The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and Tesco were among the other third parties to make submissions.

The plan was unanimously approved by councillors at the end of the discussion. As a result, it will replace the former Tullow Local Area Plan.