Gaeilge
Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton, T.D., visited Mulroy College in Milford today, Friday, 22 May, where she met with students, staff, and members of the senior management team of Mulroy College to witness first-hand the urgent need for significant improvements to the school’s buildings and facilities.
Ms Fiona Temple, Principal of Mulroy College, welcomed the visit and stated: “It is very encouraging for us as a school community to welcome Minister Naughton to Mulroy College and to provide her with an opportunity to see first-hand the challenges we face. As a school, we pride ourselves on maintaining very high standards in education. However, we continue to operate in a building that is no longer fit for purpose and remains significantly under-resourced.
Our roof has been leaking on a daily basis for over two decades, our classrooms are grossly undersized, and our ASD and SEN facilities fall far short of the requirements set out by the Department of Education and Youth. We are hopeful that this visit will help to progress the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) project approved in 2019 and bring clarity on the long-awaited decision regarding either major repair works or full replacement of our roof.”
These conditions are not only unsuitable for effective teaching and learning but also raise significant concerns in relation to health and safety, student dignity, and the delivery of inclusive education, particularly for students in ASD provision who require structured, predictable, and appropriately designed environments.
The Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB) school received approval for an ASA (Additional School Accommodation) in 2019, but to date, progress has been slow. The school would like a final decision on what repair work or replacement roof approval is being granted, and a final decision on what plans can be progressed for the ASA build. The school has an immediate need for this accommodation.
Whilst working in such conditions can prove challenging, the dedicated staff at Mulroy College consists of a committed group of professionals, from teachers to Special Needs Assistants, School Completion Programme staff, canteen staff, caretaking and cleaning staff, and the school’s enrolment continues to grow.
The ETB Ethos of Care, Community, Respect, Excellence in Education, and Equality are evident in each interaction within Mulroy College on a daily basis. In order to continue providing the highest quality teaching and learning to the school community, Ms Temple and the Board of Management of Mulroy College are calling on the Department of Education and Youth for swift decisions and immediate action. Ms Temple also acknowledged the great support from Donegal ETB on their continued work to progress this project.
Dr Martin Gormley, Director of Schools with Donegal ETB, stated: “The priority now is for the Department of Education and Youth to provide clear and timely decisions in relation to both the roof project and the Additional School Accommodation scheme. The school community of Mulroy College has waited patiently for many years, and there is now an urgent need to move to the next stage of delivery so that students and staff can be provided with safe, high-quality, and appropriate learning facilities.”
