Education Minister backs rural schools' future as he officially opens Ballybay Central extension

The potential threat of protesters didn't prevent the Minister for Education from leaving his party's think-in in Hodson Bay to officially open Ballybay Central National School's new extension in Kiltoom on Monday. Minister Batt O'Keeffe awarded the school €764,000 to build four classrooms and two ancillary rooms, as well as installing a new sewerage and drainage system and upgrading mechanical and electrical works. The well-behaved pupils sang, played music and read stories about their school for the Minister who later told the teachers, local political representatives and parents gathered, of the positive impact that a rural school like Ballybay Central NS can have. He said the school exudes confidence and innovation, which then impacts on the confidence of the local community. "The success of a school is mirrored in the community," he said, praising the cooperation, commitment and the quality of the teachers. "Any day that you open an extension for a new school is an exciting day and a great day for the Department of Education, because effectively what you're doing is you're improving the educational involvement within the school and as a result of that, the educational output will improve as well," he told the Westmeath Independent. In his speech, Minister O'Keeffe made a thinly-veiled criticism of the McCarthy report which has recommended the amalgamation of small, rural schools in a bid to save the department money. "We have to be very careful that in times when money is short, that for maybe short-term gain there would be long-term loss. I'm the product of rural school myself and I have a very good affinity of what would be rural," the Minister told the Westmeath Independent afterwards. He praised the foresight of the staff and board of management who made the decision to amalgamate two schools back in 1981 and pointed out it resulted in the "growth and success of the school", which now has 16 teachers and 268 pupils. "There are certain amalgamations that have to take place and they are good. But I think when you're looking at rural schools, you can't just look at an economic entity. You must look at the social fabric of the school, what an immense contribution it will make to the community in general, and you must also look at the leadership that's provided within those schools and the sense of place and the pride of place and the sense of community that emanates from it," he said. Minister O'Keefe also thanked Junior Minister Michael Finneran, Deputy Mary O'Rourke, Canon Liam Devine and the chairman of the BOM Fr John Cullen. Proud Principal Michael McLoughlin thanked the Minister for taking the time to attend the official opening of the extension, which was actually completed back in 2007. "A lot of the time with politicians we talk about them not delivering on promises, but I have to say the Minister wrote and promised to come and even forgo his dinner!" He pointed out that a former Minister of Education, Deputy Mary O'Rourke, who was there on the day, not only was a past pupil of the old school, but now had two grandchildren and two grandnephews attending. The principal also praised the work of the Parents' Association, who had recently raised enough money to buy the school four whiteboards. "If the people in government were as capable at raising money as the PA, there would be no need for NAMA," he said to the delight of the crowd. He had a word of thanks too, for former councillor Anthony Geraghty, who he said he first went to about the extension and set the ball in motion. Two pupils, Michelle and Sianna, read out reflections on the school written by their fellow pupils who had moved here from America and India. Ann O'Sullivan, a third-generation teacher and granddaughter of a former principal of the old Famore national school, Nora Bean Ni Houlihan, presented Minister O'Keeffe with a collection of local folklore gathered by Mrs Ni Houlihan back in the 1930s. Canon Devine and Fr Cullen also spoke and gave the school and pupils their blessings. And the lucky pupils sang their way to a homework-free night, while the ten-odd gardaí were able to relax, as the threat of protesters never materialised.