Vol. 441 No. 1
203 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the anxiety and concern of the teaching staff at the three post primary schools in the Ballyshannon area of County Donegal at the lack of information and consultation afforded them regarding the proposed new community school; and the plans, if any, she has to address these concerns.
My Department has received correspondence signed by the teaching staffs of the three post-primary schools in Ballyshannon to the effect that they are concerned at the lack of information afforded to teachers and the community regarding the proposed community school for Ballyshannon.
In such cases, where a number of post-primary schools are being amalgamated into a single school, my Department communicates, in the first instance, with the owners/trustees of the schools involved. The question of appropriate consultations at local level with teachers and parents would then be a matter for the school authorities.
In line with my commitment to keep concerned interests informed of the position regarding the Department's school building projects, I recently announced a list of projects which are my Department's priorities in architectural planning and I am glad to state that the project to provide a single community school in Ballyshannon is included in that list.
My Department is now in correspondence with the owners/trustees of the Ballyshannon schools with a view to ensuring a smooth transition from a multi-school to a single school situation, in line with recommendations in the report on the National Education convention.
