Pictures: Cork students welcome Finance Minister to their school 

300 students welcomed Minister for Finance, Jack Chambers TD to their school in recent days. 

The visit, which took place on Friday at Coláiste an Phiarsaigh in Glanmire, saw the Minister deliver a speech to pupils from junior cycle classes on what it means to be a politician, and his plans for the future allocation of monies within the education sector.

Mnister Chambers was invited to the school to mark it’s 50-year anniversary, which was achieved in 2023.

Speaking to The Echo, Coláiste an Phiarsaigh Principal, Micheál Ó Tuama said: “As one of the largest gaelscoileanna in the country, and with his previous role, we felt it would be important for the Minister to speak to the students and explain exactly what his position is.

“He spoke to the students fluently in Irish, which was brilliant, and explained to them the surplus of money he had this year, what he was hoping to do with it, and how he was hoping to give much of it to education.

“He also congratulated us on achieving the 50-year landmark, and for getting sanctioned for a brand new secondary school, which is coming along in the next two to three years.

“The Department of Finance has committed €35m to the development, and he was here to mark that as well.” 

The new development at Coláiste an Phiarsaigh, which currently caters to 580 students and 60 faculty members, will see the construction of 15 new classrooms, a suite of specialised classrooms to facilitate subjects like home economics, woodwork, metalwork and technical graphics, a new library, a canteen, and a new staff room, by 2027.

“It’s going to be a school for the future,” said Principal Ó Tuama.

“It’ll be a school for Irish speaking which caters to the community of Cork City and it’s hinterlands, which is why it was important for Minister Chambers to come along.

"He is a role model for our students, being the youngest Minister for Finance since Michael Collins.

“It was something different and the students loved it," he added.

"He gave them free homework for the weekend, so he was a big hit.” 

Students and faculty also presented Minister Chambers with a specially engraved pen that featured the school name, as well as a school jersey marked.

Coláiste an Phiarsaigh will be hosting an open night for prospective students on September 19 from 6pm to 8.30pm, with all members of the public invited to join.

For more information about Coláiste an Phiarsaigh, please visit: http://www.colaisteanphiarsaigh.ie/.