This article is from page 16 of the 2007-07-24 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
WITH just five weeks left until the beginning of the school year, the management of the Mol An Ojge primary school in Ennistymon are unable to begin construction work at a new Site for the Steiner school because of continued delay by the Department of Education.
Having received the go-ahead to be- gin construction work on a new pre- fabricated facility from Clare County Council more than two weeks ago, the development has been stalled
following continued delays by the Department of Education in deciding whether to grant the school official recognition.
A contractor has been poised to be- gin essential construction work since the beginning of July but all work has been put on ice until a decision is made.
“If we are to get official recogni- tion, we need to get working on the new school and we need to get work- ing soon,” said a spokesperson from Mol an Oige.
“The site needs essentials like elec-
tricity and water and a contractor is ready and waiting to begin work.”
A delegation from the school met with the Minister for Education on Sunday but no commitment on rec- ognition, or timetable for a decision to be made, was forthcoming.
If the school does not get official recognition, they will be forced to abandon plans for a new school building and remain in their current location near Data Display.
“Either way, we have 56 students who want to be educated in this way and will be coming to Mol An Ojge
next year,’ continued the spokesper- Te) 0F
“We will be going ahead no matter what happens. We have great support from all the parents and everyone in- volved in the school.”
Meanwhile, a letter has been sent to An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, inform- ing him of the situation at the school and the need for swift action.
The Mol an Oige primary school has been operating in Ennistymon with no state assistance for three years. It is one of just two Steiner schools operating in County Clare.