Minister accused of 'going missing' in Mayo school controversy
Pupils from Holy Trinity NS in Westport staged a protest at The Octagon in 2020 in pursuit of a new school.
The Department of Education has failed to respond to calls from Westport councillors to clarify the situation regarding the planned development of a new school for Holy Trinity School in the town. The Church of Ireland school was to be developed at the former Scoil Phádraig site in the town, but plans were thrown into disarray earlier this year after the Department offered the site to the local Sacred Heart Secondary School for temporary pre-fabs.
A meeting of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District heard accusations that Minister for Education Norma Foley has "gone missing" since the controversy erupted. The matter was raised by Cllr Christy Hyland who said it had been agreed at the last meeting to write to the Department.
"Holy Trinity National School was all set to go with their new school, with plans in place and an architect appointed. Then the Department pulled the mat from under them with talk about putting prefabs into the site where the school was to be built on. Have we heard back from the Department?”
Padraig Walsh, head of the district, said there had been no reply.
Fianna Fáil Cllr Brendan Mulroy said party colleague Minister Foley promised to get back to him but failed to do so.
"Norma Foley has actually gone missing on this. I would get on the phone and ask her to meet a delegation from Holy Trinity because it is not good enough.
"Does she realise the history of Westport town? They are a minority religion in this town. When it comes to a United Ireland vote, how do you think it would go when it comes to this being how they treat minority religions here? On my watch, Holy Trinity will not be kicked around the place. I say, let’s get a delegation to go and see the Minister and I have no problem taking time out to do that.”
Cllr Peter Flynn said: “I second a delegation going to meet the Minister. It was just so frustrating to watch what is going on over the last few months and for [the deal] to unravel, so getting face-to-face with the minister and getting answers is the only way to go.”
