New building for Gaelscoil being used in ‘political game of cat and mouse’, says Senator

The new school building for Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire in Parnell Square should not be used in political game of cat and mouse between the Department of Education and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, according to Labour Senator Marie Sherlock.

Senator Sherlock said that “Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire is currently into its 21st year in temporary accommodation and has had to endure years of broken promises and false dawns.

“Year after year, the Department stumps up €328,000 in rent for a building that is decrepit and substandard, and which is only made work by the amazing efforts of the school staff and the entire school community.

“The school expected that the sod would finally be turned on the new school building site around Easter time, with the winning tender selected and the design team signing off on the project at the end of February.

“However, in recent weeks the school learned that it is on the list of 58 schools currently put on hold due to a funding row between the Department of Education and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

“At a time where the public finances are in a very healthy position, it is simply not credible that a school waiting over two decades for a new building would be made wait any longer.

“Furthermore, such have been the litany of delays with this project that a suitable site in Dominick Street has been left vacant since at least 2008, when Dublin City Council first identified the location.

“I am calling in the strongest possible terms for Ministers Donohoe and Foley to resolve the funding row between their Departments and to ensure, at long last, that the students and staff of Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire can see their new school building under construction.”