Cloonakilla NS announcement welcome but must be fast tracked – Naughten

In South Roscommon by Denis Naughten

Local TD Denis Naughten has welcomed the announcement by Minister Jan O’Sullivan that Cloonakilla NS is to be included in the school building programme for 2015.
“Cloonakilla NS services one of the fastest growing communities in the country and, based on this criteria, it should have been included in the last five year school building programme,” stated Denis Naughten.

“Therefore, I want to publicly acknowledge the role played by Minister O’Sullivan, former Minister of State Sean Sherlock & Senator John Kelly in realising that a fundamental mistake was made by the Department and as a result the Cloonakilla NS project is now being prioritised.

“I also want to acknowledge the important role played by the teachers, parents and Board of Management of the school in pushing this issue with the Government representatives.

“However, this project cannot, and should not, be delayed. It is a ‘shovel ready’ project and should proceed immediately. My fear is that the project could now be grouped with other schools which are not as far advanced as the Cloonakilla NS project and this could slow down the start of the construction phase.

“Pupils, staff and parents have lost out because of the mistakes made by the Department of Education in the past and they cannot be penalised any longer. This project must commence without delay,” concluded Denis Naughten.