THE SCALE of opposition by established schools in the Co Clare region against plans for a new Steiner school emerged yesterday with the Department of Education confirming that eight other schools lodged objections.
In February, Minister for Education Mary Hanafin granted State recognition to the Mol an Óige Steiner school in the north Clare town of Ennistymon after a two-year battle.
As part of the process, interested parties could make submissions in favour of or against the new school.
Until now, those submissions could not be made public. However, records released under the Freedom of Information Act yesterday confirm that a total of 52 objections were lodged against the proposed new school.
The schools to object were Convent Primary School, Ennistymon, Clouna NS, Furglan NS, Doolin NS, Kilshanny NS, Lahinch Scoil Mhuire, Scoil Iosef Maigh and the amalgamated St Fachnan and St Attracta NS at Kilfenora.
The greatest amount of opposition came from the Burren village of Kilfenora where 22 objections were received, while three priests, Fr Pat Rabbitte, Fr Joseph Roche and Fr Seán McHugh in their role as chairmen of schools' boards of management were also party to school objections.
However, the objections to Mol an Óige are outnumbered three to one by those in favour after Mol an Óige encouraged a letter-writing campaign in order to secure a positive response from the Department of Education to its application.
