Cork town's school has 'acute accommodation shortfall'

Fears are escalating that a school in Carrigaline is facing a crisis if action is not taken soon because it will not be able to accommodate classes within the next two years.

Education minister Hildegarde Naughton is being urged to clarify what is to be done to alleviate the mounting pressure facing Owenabue ETNS (Educate Together National School) in Carrigaline.

Sinn Féin councillor Eoghan Fahy got unanimous cross-party support at a recent local authority meeting to put pressure on the minister after detailing the current woes of the school.

He raised it after being contacted by the “very anxious” school representatives.

“It opened in 2020 in response to a need for additional primary school places in Carrigaline and, since then, it’s operated exclusively in temporary accommodation,” he said.

“In March 2021, a decision was taken — and publicly announced by Taoiseach Micheál Martin — to reallocate the permanent building originally assigned to this school. It had been due to move into it in September 2021. 

"At that time, the school was given repeated assurances that it would be treated as a priority project for a permanent school building,” Mr Fahy said.

The school is currently operating across two split sites in Heron’s Wood. Following confirmation in 2021 that permanent accommodation would be delivered via a new-build project, a site was identified in January 2023 and subsequently purchased in Janeville. Mr Fahy said that in May 2024 a timeline was given, indicating this would be achieved by either next year or 2028 at the latest.

“While I understand such timelines are indicative, progress has fallen significantly behind what was outlined at that meeting,” he said. He added that there is no final sign-off for it yet.

The school has experienced an acute accommodation shortfall. Capacity in its original building was exhausted last year and, following engagement with the department and in the absence of suitable alternatives, the school was compelled to open a second temporary site.