Council to contact Education Minister about St Eugene's PS

Derry City and Strabane District councillors have unanimously agreed to write to Stormont Education Minister Paul Givan regarding the "dilapidation" of a school building in the city. 

Raising the issue at Wednesday’s full Council meeting, Cllr Aisling Hutton (Sinn Féin) highlighted the ongoing situation at St Eugene’s Primary School, near the city centre.

Cllr Hutton said it was not the first time the infrastructure of schools in the city and district had been the topic of conversation at Council.

“St Eugene’s Primary School, which is in The Moor DEA, was set across two sites. However, at the minute, because of the dilapidation of one of the buildings, the school is now operating with more than 200 children and staff in one site of the school,” added Cllr Hutton.

“There has been a budget set. There has been a  timeline set in relation to the refurbishment of the older building which is [scheduled] for 2027. 

“I have visited the school. I have spoken with the school principal and I would propose that we write to the Education Minister asking if he and his team could maybe source more resources so that the works’ timeline can be expedited in relation to this school.

“I think it is very, very important for the well-being of the staff and the children and also the health and safety aspect of the school, given  where it is situated,” said Cllr Hutton.

Mayor Ruairí Hutton said he had had the pleasure of visiting St Eugene’s Primary School.

He added: “I met with the principal and she showed me the dilemma they were facing, so I don't envisage there will be any problem writing that letter to the Education Minister.”

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Cllr Brian Tierney (SDLP), a past pupil of St Eugene’s Primary School, said it might surprise some people to learn there had been little work done to the school since he was a pupil. 

“I also had the opportunity to visit the school um whenever I was mayor and in recent times as well and that work needs expedited urgently,” he added.

“It is a massive, massive issue because the children and  the staff are working in facilities that are by far long outdated. Any other school, I believe, would have formed a campaign themselves to try and push this on but St Eugene’s is  more interested in getting on with the day-to-day work and looking after um the children. 

“So we would be absolutely supportive of Cllr Hutton’s suggestion to write to the Minister in that regard.”