Solutions on horizon for Mayo Educate Together school

CASTLEBAR Educate Together National School is to be provided with eight classrooms, following a site identification and acquisition process, in a move that aims to bring a long-term solution for the school, a Fine Gael senator has confirmed.

Senator Paddy Burke said: “Since its establishment in 2015 by a proactive community group, the school's student population has increased to 141, spanning three different campuses. I have raised with the minister the untenable situation of running Castlebar Educate Together National School across separate locations.

“The school has a very good board of management, and it is very well managed but there is significant difficulty in running a national school over three locations. Such a scenario is simply unacceptable for our children and their educational needs, and a long term solution needs to be found.

“I am pleased to confirm the department has agreed to a permanent solution that will see the school provided with eight classrooms. This move will consolidate the school's operations and provide a stable learning environment for our students in Castlebar.

“Furthermore, the department is prepared to allocate capital funding for necessary reconfigurations such as a staff room and a toilet, enabling the effective use of additional space for school activities.”

He continued: “Currently, the department is actively engaging in a site identification process aimed at securing a long-term solution for the school's accommodation needs. While I acknowledge that such processes can be lengthy, I have been assured that this is a priority for the Department of Education.

“I am committed to closely monitoring the progress on this issue and will continue advocating for targeted capital investment in our schools. It is imperative that we support our schools in meeting the educational needs of all students and the broader community in Castlebar.”