A chara, – Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn stated that schools included in his new school building programme were in rapidly developing areas and/or had existing classrooms in prefabs (Home News, March 13th).
I am principal of a school which in a period of 12 years has grown from 87 pupils to 367. We continue to grow. We have 14 rooms in temporary accommodation and an annual rent bill in excess of €110,000. We have a magnificent green field site donated to us by the parish to build and a design team in place with plans almost finalised. In spite of this, we failed to be included in the much-heralded five-year plan.
The Minister, shortly after taking office, promised me personally on the national airwaves, transparency and fairness when dealing with the school building programme. However, unfortunately I fail to see either of these qualities in his present plan. – Is mise,