Cloonakilla NS moves on but no joy for Athlone schools

There was good news for Cloonakilla NS in Bealnamulla this week as a major extension and refurbishment works have been sanctioned by the Department of Education. However, there are no tangible signs of progress on plans for two planned new 16-classroom schools for Coosan NS and Cornamaddy NS. Details of the 2010 school building project were made yesterday (Tuesday) by Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe. He confirmed Cloonakilla NS will be able to appoint a design team at some stage in the last three months of this year. Principal Mary O'Rourke was unavailable for comment as the school is closed for its mid-term break. "Cloonakilla National School is sanctioned to go to Architectural Planning and Design Stage for a major extension and refurbishment of the existing building. I am very much aware that the school is operating in a limited space as Cloonakilla is a developing area," said Minister Michael Finneran. "We welcome the announcement of funding for the development of further educational facilities. The Board of Management has campaigned actively for additional facilities to meet the growing demands of this developing area and to meet the needs of increasing enrolment figures," said Principal Mary O'Rourke. "We acknowledge and are grateful for the intervention of Minister Finneran on our behalf and we thank also Mr John Tiernan, ex-County Manager of Roscommon County Council, for his foresight in securing the adjoining land for educational development." However, Deputy Denis Naughten, whilst welcoming the progress, added a note of caution. "I'm delighted that it's moving ... but I have seen projects go as far as design before and been left on the long finger. The reality is that we don't have time for that in Cloonakilla at the moment." The extension comes after a significant increase in population in the South Roscommon area. The last census in the Athlone West Rural DED, which included the school's catchment area, recorded a 38% increase in the population, while the Department of Education last year estimated that places will be needed for an additional 149 primary school pupils up to 2012. Roscommon County Council had purchased two acres of land adjacent to Cloonakilla to prepare for the further development of the school. Although there were no Athlone schools featured on this list, Deputy Mary O'Rourke claimed yesterday that the new school plans for Coosan NS would go to the next stage shortly. "Coosan is on the next lot," she said. "I spoke to Batt O'Keeffe yesterday and he said it will go to the next stages very shortly." She said that the next round of building allocations could be made in a month. Athlone Town Councillor Kevin 'Boxer' Moran (FF) said that he was very disappointed that the Minister had failed to announce funding for any schools in the Athlone area. "I'm terribly disappointed that there is nothing for this end of Westmeath, especially for Coosan. Cornamaddy is under the Public Private Partnership scheme, so maybe that will come at a later stage," he said yesterday (Tuesday). "Coosan went to design stage last January but there's been nothing since." Minister O'Keeffe announced a total of 52 school building projects which can go to tender and construction as part of the Government's €579 million school building programme. "Over the coming weeks, I will announce school projects under the Summer Works Scheme which includes measures to promote water conservation and cut water bills," said Minister O'Keeffe at his announcement yesterday.