Long-term accommodation identified for Castlebar Educate Together school

CASTLEBAR Educate Together National School will secure long-term accommodation after the Department of Education agreed to provide it with eight classrooms following a site identification and acquisition process.

Established in 2015, the non-denominational school has 141 students and is currently based at three different campuses; the former Castlebar Town Council offices at Marsh House, the old hat factory and an upstairs facility off Hopkins Road

The school was promised a new facility after Minister for Education, Norma Foley, visited it in September 2022.

The matter has been raised in both the Dáil and Seanad.

Fine Gael Senator Paddy Burke said the Department of Education is willing to provide capital funding for reconfigurations such as a staff room and a toilet.

“While I acknowledge that such processes can be lengthy, I have been assured that this is a priority for the Department of Education,” he stated.

Senator Burke said it was ‘simply unacceptable’ for the school to be operating from three separate campuses.

“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.”