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16th October 2012 • Volume 19, Issue 32 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. • Tel: 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie
New Malahide School Gets The Go Ahead A decision to grant permission has been issued by the County Council for a new replacement school at St Oliver Plunkett School on Grove Road in Malahide. This decision comes after a 12 year wait and is set to bring joy and relief to children and parents alike. St Oliver Plunkett’s School is one of the largest Primary Schools in the country. The existing school caters for about 900 pupils and 66 staff
By Patrick Finnegan
members and many of the buildings are in a poor state of repair. Approximately one-third of the school classrooms are housed in prefabricated, temporary accommodation. It is considered that the current facilities and standards are not suitable for a modern learning environment, as the classrooms and other support areas do not comply with Department of Education and Skills minimum sizes or specifications. The new school will be a state of the art facility where everyone will be housed in one ultra modern school. In all, there will be 35 mainstream classrooms, a Sports Hall, with wheelchair accessibility throughout, in full compliance with Department of Education standards, as well as on-site parking for 60 cars. It is now proposed to replace all of the existing separate Claire O'Connor, principal of St Oliver Plunkett School in Malahide is delighted with buildings, except for the the great news. Inset: An artist’s impression of the new school. much admired original
Molly Murray celebrated her 102nd bithday in Lusk Community Unit on Sunday last, 14th October. Molly is pictured here enjoying the party with her daughters, Marie Murray, Eleanor Conlan and her son, Stephen Murray. See story on page 13
Boyd Barrett school building, which will be retained and be used for community use. The new replacement school will be 5,484 square metres in size ; however it is not envisaged that the number of pupils will increase as a result of the new replacement school. It is envisaged that the existing school will continue to function, while the new school is being constructed. The building works will have to be phased to facilitate the existing school remaining in-situ during the works and also to minimise disruption to neighbouring properties. Newly appointed School Principal, Claire O’Connor was understandably elated at the news. She told the County Leader, “This is the first major hurdle to be overcome. This school
is the centre of the community in Malahide. We have so many generations here and we still retain our small town feeling. Children and parents alike are fed up of putting up with second rate portacabins that are no longer fit for purpose. We’re looking forward to the new purpose built school, which these children deserve.” She went on to emphasise the struggle the school had to reach where they are today, “We are finally reaching our dream after 12 years of trying. There were endless rounds of meetings and planning and setbacks along the way. We can now look forward to our dream coming through, We have a superb parents’ committee and staff and now our dream is about to be realised,” she said.
Councillors Need To Concentrate On Local Issues The recent decision by Fingal County councillors to pass a motion in support for same sex marriages, has been given a broad welcome by human rights organisations and is deemed by many to be highly laudable. However, many local activists that have spoken to the County Leader, are amazed by the fact that the local councillors have become embroilled in a national issue and are wondering why they don’t leave such a debate to TDs who are elected to legislate on national issues. Many believe they would be better suited to dealing with local problems, like holding officials in the council accountable for the
state of our roads, pathways and other infrastructural business, for which they were elected. A furious Joe Newman, the well known Swords activist, contacted the County Leader and criticised the councillors for spending time discussing national issues, while local problems, for which they were elected are being Joe Newman neglected. He said, “I have been forced to be in regular contact with the local authority over the state of roads, speed ramps and footpaths, where safety is a real concern. I have highlighted many potential safety
flash points and have had to notify the council about them, due to the lack of activity of local councillors. This is something i should not have to do,” he said. Newman also criticised the fact that voluntary organisations like Tidy Towns should have to highlight problems to councillors. “Councillors are elected to hold the local authority accountable and they need to keep their eyes on the ball and not worry about issues that have nothing to do with them.” Others have remarked that junkets were undertaken by councillors to far flung places in
arises after the Headed Items, which are generally main council issues have been dealt with,” he said. Local residents have regularly used search of investment in the North this newspaper to appeal to the County at a cost to the local authority council to carry out vital repair work and wonder why such actions were on roads, pathways and other infranot undertaken by government minis- structure that has fallen into disreters (whose job it is), at the expense pair. Immediately after the announceof the national exchequer. ment of the winners of the Tidy Towns Councillor Darragh Butler competition, committee (FF) said that occasionally members from Skerries Tidy issues will arise that are not Towns group approached directly related to our immethe County Leader diate vicinity and that they appealing for support from are dealt with by the senior management of the chamber. “It’s important that County Council, which we still have an input into would mean that Skerries Cllr. Darragh Butler national issues, but maybe could be a real contender in we need to limit the time the national competition. Surely the spent on them. It’s a chance for us to local councillors should take note and have a say, but this opportunity only proceed accordingly.