‘I wouldn't allow my own children to go there’: Huge concerns raised over conditions at Kildare school

A plethora of concerns have been raised over the poor conditions plaguing one County Kildare school.

A number of councillors who attended the latest Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District (MD) meeting, which took place on Wednesday, December 17 last, expressed their concerns about the school and called for remedial action to be taken.

Their sentiments echo similar calls for action that were made by Labour Party TD Mark Wall, as well as Fianna Fáil Senator Fiona O'Loughlin, earlier this week.

The MD meeting discussion kicked off when Social Democrats Cllr Pat Balfe motioned for Kildare County Council (KCC) to "write to the Department of Education seeking a detailed update on the commencement of construction of the proposed new build secondary school for The Curragh Community College".

He also said that he specifically wanted KCC to request clarification on:

• "The current status of the project, including completion of any remaining design, planning, tender, or procurement stages"
• "The anticipated timeline for commencement of construction, including any revised start dates where applicable"
• "Any outstanding issues or dependencies that may be delaying the progression of the project, including an assurance that funding allocated for the project remains secured, and confirmation that the Department is prioritising the delivery of the new school in order to meet growing local educational needs"

His motion was seconded by his party colleague, Cllr Chris Pender.

In addition, Cllr Balfe made a declaration that he sat on the Board of Management for the School, as did Fianna Fáil Cllr Brian O'Loughlin.

Responding to the motion, KCC said via the report it presented at the meeting that this would be a matter for the members to agree upon.

READ NEXT: ‘No one should be alone at any time of year’: Kildare Cllr to keep office open on Christmas Day

Speaking further on his motion, Cllr Balfe said: "The services at the school on inadequate."

According to Cllr Balfe, supports for the school, which is also designated as a DEIS school, were previously assured but "never fully materialised".

"This has had a negative impact on teaching, learning and morale," he added.

STORM DAMAGES

Furthermore, Cllr Balfe said that Storm Bram caused damages to three classrooms in the school, leaving them unusable at present.

Concluding his points, he said: "The school community cannot wait; the students and teachers deserve safe and dignified conditions."

Cllr Pender then spoke, and told those in attendance that he had received communications from both teachers and students who described the conditions in the school.

"It's atrocious," he added: "No student or teacher should have to deal with it."

Another councillor who weighed in was Cllr O'Loughlin, who claimed: "It's not even the school itself, it's the surroundings too."

He further said: "Everything [there] is substandard".

Cllr O'Loughlin's party colleague, Cllr Suzanne Doyle, then gave her views on the matter, and pondered why KCC and the MD's members didn't have regular meetings with the Department of Education.

"And at the very least, I think the Mayor of the County should be present for such meetings," she suggested.

READ NEXT: Kildare County Council announces recipient of the Amplify Artist Practice Bursary

'AN ABSOLUTE DISGRACE'

Sinn Féin Cllr Noel Connolly, who appeared at the meeting by virtual means, described the situation as "an absolute disgrace".

"I wouldn't allow my own children to go there, and I wouldn't work there," he told those in attendance.

In addition, he claimed that the school's buildings are "detrimental to the health of students, their academic learning and a sense of school morale".

Another councillor who appeared at the meeting by virtual means, Fine Gael Cllr Kevin Duffy, agreed with the sentiments expressed by his fellow councillors.

Following this, the Mayor of the MD, Fianna Fáil Cllr Noel Heavey, noted that he previously worked as a teacher, and described a situation at a school he used to work in.

He said that the school's buildings were "in a very poor state" at the time and added that the school's Board of Management brought the matter to the Teacher's Union.

"Eventually, a new school manifested," Mayor Heavey told those in attendance.

Drawing from this experience, he advised KCC and his fellow councillors: "I would say that the first place I would go for this would be the Union."

After the matter was put to a brief vote, it was agreed by the majority of the councillors that KCC would write a letter to the Department of Education in relation to the conditions at Curragh Community College.

Social Democrats Cllr Pat Balfe. File photograph

READ NEXT: Kildare County Council urged to widen approach roads for two bridges in Newbridge

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.