The pupils of Gaelscoile Na Cruaiche and their parents and teachers will have to wait until September for an update on their planned new school according to Cllr Keith Martin. In addition to this the Minister of Education, Batt O'Keeffe TD is unable at present to say how many primary schools in Mayo are educating pupils in prefabs.
In reply to a question raised by Labour's Spokesperson on Education, Ruairi Quinn TD on behalf of Cllr Martin, the Minister said his Department is in the process of compiling the information gathered from a survey undertaken in September 2007.
In relation to the planned new Gaelscoile building the Minister stated in May that the architectural planning of the Gaelscoile was at "an advanced stage" but following discussions between Deputy Quinn and Minister O'Keeffe is seems likely that it will be September before the Minister will have an update on the school in the context of the Department's Multi Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.
Cllr Martin says the lack of progress on the issues is "very disappointing".
"This project has received full planning permission on a site made available specially by Westport Town Council for the school and the plans are at an advanced stage. Really, all the pupils and parents are waiting on is for the tender to be granted to build the project or, failing that, for the Minister to give a date for when he will grant a tender.
"Its very disappointing after all the hard work by the pupils and parents in raising their case and after all the Town Council's work in facilitating and lobbying, that the school is being left in limbo.
"With the decline in the building industry and the economy at large, now is the time for the government to embark on capital spending projects like the Gaelscoille."
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