This article is from page 8 of the 2006-03-14 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
TEACHERS and pupils at St Patrick’s National School in Parteen were told this week that they were to get a new classroom.
The Department of Education has sanctioned funding to supply a pre-fab classroom for the growing numbers of pupils attending the school.
The allocation of money was welcomed by local Councillor, Paschal Fitzgerald (Lab), but he warned that providing temporary accommodation was “not the answer.”
“This is one of the fastest growing areas of Clare and what the school needs is money for a proper extension, because the school will be getting more enrolments in the years to come,” said Cllr Fitzgerald.
Meanwhile, householders in Parteen received fliers through their letterboxes signed jointly by Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea and Fianna Fáil Councillor Cathal Crowe, announcing the new 80 square metre prefab for the school.
They claimed that as a result of “our ongoing representations to the Minister for Education Mary Hanafin” the school had been approved for an additional classroom.”
The Fianna Fáil politicians said in the handout that “for the past number of months we have worked hand in hand with the management and staff of Parteen National School to ensure that their application to the Dept. of Education was given priority. Due praise and recognition needs to be given to the Principal Ms. Mary McNiece O’Regan, her dedicated staff and the hard working Board of Management and Parent’s Committee.
One parent described the additional classroom as “much needed for the ever increasing needs of the school. Children from surrounding areas are now attending Parteen, which is a credit to the teaching staff, and the maintenance of the school internally and externally shows the commitment of those employed to do this work.”