Strabane Weekly News - News - Anger as Minister rejects Artigarvan PS new build plans

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Anger as Minister rejects Artigarvan PS new build plans

Thursday, 8 July 2010

WEST Tyrone MLA, Allan Bresland, has condemned this week's decision by Education Minister, Catriona Ruane, to reject proposals for a new building for Artigarvan Primary School due to a downturn in pupil numbers.
In the Department of Education's Review of Capital Projects, released on Monday, Artigarvan was one of eight schools looking for new buildings across the province listed as 'non-compliant' with the department's Sustainable Schools Policy.
The schools have been informed by the Department that their proposals will need to be reworked to address "school specific or area issues".
This latest blow for the local primary school comes over four years after the government announced it would be getting a new building. In March 2006, the Department of Education revealed that £2.5 million had been allocated for the provision of a new replacement school on a new site.
In identifying the need for a new school in Artigarvan, the Western Education and Library Board (WELB) had earlier purchased a green field site in May 2005.
Speaking to the Strabane Weekly News yesterday (Tuesday), Mr Bresland described the Education Minister's latest decision as a "slap in the face" for the pupils and staff at Artigarvan Primary School.
‘Angered'
He said: "After weeks of prevarication, Education Minister, Catriona Ruane, has now published the results of her review of school capital projects. I must say that I am very disappointed and angered, but not really surprised, by the decision to reject Artigarvan Primary School as 'non-compliant' under the policy for sustainable schools.
“The staff and pupils of this fine school deserve better than the slap in the face they have received from this incompetent and partisan Minister."
The Strabane district councillor said that the local school "urgently required" new facilities.
“However, when I pressed the Minister on the matter in the Assembly in May, I was far from reassured by her non-committal answer," he said.
Mr Bresland accused the Minister of "disgraceful mismanagement" of the resources available to her.
He said: "I fully accept that resources are scarce and will become even scarcer, but that is no excuse for the disgraceful mismanagement of those resources by the current Minister. Isn't it interesting that she can still find funds for capital projects in Irish medium schools?"
The MLA added: "I do not intend to let this matter drop, and, over the course of the next few weeks, I will be consulting with, among others, my colleague, Mervyn Storey MLA, chair of the Education Committee."
Shock
Fellow Strabane district councillor, John Donnell, said the decision to reject the proposal for a new building was "shocking news" for Artigarvan.
Mr Donnell said: "I'm extremely disappointed by this announcement. People in the area had their hopes built up by the promise of a new school, but where does this leave Artigarvan now?
“The current school is not really fit for purpose. There are lots of steps around it, which presents difficulties for people with disabilities. It is also very overcrowded as regards its staff accommodation."
The district councillor accused the Department of Education of "dragging its heels" over the proposals for a new school.
He said: "While this week's decision boils down to a restraint on funds, I can't understand why the new school wasn't built before now. If they had went ahead whenever they had the money, we wouldn't be in this situation."
Mr Donnell said it was "paramount" that every young child locally received a good education.
“Where does this leave future generations in Artigarvan? Everyone is entitled to a good school that they're happy in and with good facilities."
The principal of Artigarvan Primary School, Lisa Hicks, is currently on holiday and not available for comment. A spokesperson for the school told the Strabane Weekly News that the Board of Governors would not be commenting on the matter until they had discussed it with the principal.
The WELB this week revealed that a "downturn in demographics" had resulted in the Artigarvan Primary School project requiring "further discussions" to address the school specific or area issues as set out by the Minister.
A WELB spokesperson said: "Since the capital announcement for a new school for Artigarvan, in March 2006, the school has experienced a downturn in enrolment numbers. The Board and the Board of Governors of Artigarvan Primary School are working with the Department of Education to address the issues raised."
The spokesperson added: "WELB will continue to work with the school and the Department with a view to bringing forward the provision of a new school building for the area which is consistent with the Department's policy framework and viable and sustainable in the long term."