Minister of Education 'gone missing' on resolving Holy Trinity school site impasse

A FIANNA Fáil councillor has accused the Minister of Education of going missing and needs to 'step up to the mark' and resolve the dispute between her department and Holy Trinity NS in Westport.

Members of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District have called on Minister of Education Norma Foley to meet them and a delegation from Holy Trinity National School to retry and resolve the impasse regarding the use of the Scoil Phádraig NS site on Altamount Street.

The site had been earmarked as the location for the new Church of Ireland National School building but the Department of Education has offered it to local Sacred Heart Secondary School to use on a temporary basis.

Westport councillor Brendan Mulroy criticised his party colleague, Minister Foley for not returning his calls to discuss what has happened to Holy Trinity and accused her of going missing.

Cllr Brendan Mulroy has accused the Minister of Education of going missing

“Minister Norma Foley has gone missing on this issue. I have contacted her on two occasions and she has not got back to me,” he told the monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District.

Cllr Mulroy said that Holy Trinity has got a 'fair aul kicking' by the Department of Education in recent years and urged the Minister to meet them.

“We are a month out from elections and we are all busy canvassing but I will be saying we write to her and ring her office to ask her to meet a delegation from this council along with Holy Trinity even at this late stage.

“Does she not realise the history of this county and this town and what it means to Holy Trinity and the people who went to Holy Trinity. They are a minority school and minority religion in this town.

“It is shocking and there are bigger things at play here than just a primary school. I think the Government and Norma Foley need to step up to the mark. Holy Trinity will not be kicked around on my watch,” Cllr Mulroy said.

His proposal to meet with the Minister was supported by the other Westport councillors with Fine Gael councillor Peter Flynn stating that Holy Trinity deserves answers.

“It is so frustrating to watch what has happened over the last number of months and it is not fair on either school particularly on Holy Trinity. I think a delegation may be the only option in getting face to face with the Minister and demanding answers,” he said.