Manulla NS report not ready

Manulla NS report not ready

Padraig Burns

THE controversy surrounding Manulla National School took another twist last week when the Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin, informed the Mayo TD, Michael Ring, that she was not yet in a position to make public a report into the circumstances that led to over 40 parents withdrawing their children from the school last year. A report was prepared by the single manager for the school, Mr Brian Hynes, and submitted to the Minister’s office last year. Deputy Ring has called for its publication on several occasions in the past few months but to date Minister Hanafin has been unable to satisfy his wishes.
Last week the Minister informed Deputy Ring that clarification was sought from the single manager on the report that he submitted. “This clarification is now being considered in my Department. Pending completion of the consideration of that clarification, and a decision on the action, if any, to be taken in relation to it, I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this juncture,’’ she said.
Deputy Ring told The Mayo News that he would continue to pursue the issue as he believed the parents and the children of the Manulla area are entitled to know what was in the report. “Over 40 families felt they had no option but to remove their children from the school in Manulla and it’s important that they know the contents of the report and also what the Minister plans to do,” he said.