Last week the Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe announced that refurbishment work at Nenagh Vocational School can now go to tender and construction.
Other school projects authorised to prepare tender documents include Borrisokane Vocational School, Ursuline Convent, Thurles and Scoil Mhuire Presentations Secondary School, Thurles. The Sacred Heart Convent in Roscrea has been authorised to appoint a design team in quarter three.
North Tipperary Deputy Noel Coonan has welcomed the recent announcement but said there is long way to go with 36 schools still waiting for their projects to advance.
He stated:
“There are 41 schools in North Tipperary that have made applications for major capital building works to the Department of Education. Five of these projects will now advance to the next stage as announced by Minister Batt O’Keeffe but it is my role in opposition to highlight the needs of the remaining schools and ensure Government Deputies in North Tipperary honour commitments made. The urgency of the situation cannot be underestimated with only five out of 41 schools, or 12%, moving to the next stage in North Tipperary. With new applications continuously being submitted to the Department of Education, this Government has a long way to go and supporting Deputies should not be blowing their own trumpets just yet.
I am continuously submitting parliamentary questions to the Minister for Educations to find out when local school projects will be advanced. In return the Minister replies that ‘in view of the level of demand on the Department’s capital budget, it is not possible to give an indicative time frame for the progression of individual school projects at this time’. This reply is unacceptable when it is the education of the children of our nation that is suffering. “
Individual school projects fall under four band ratings, each of which describes the extent of accommodation required and the urgency attaching to it.
Band One has the highest priority rating and Band Four has the lowest rating.
Boher NS Ballina, St.Anne’s Special School, Roscrea and Templemore NS, are of high priority with a band rating of One. These schools have applied for extension and refurbishment works with Boher NS urgently waiting on a Special Needs Unit.
Meanwhile, 22 North Tipperary schools are in the Band Two rating. Some of the schools waiting include Our Lady’s Secondary School, Templemore which is in early architectural planning for an extension, Scoil Ruaine, Killenaule which has an application for a PE Hall and Cloughjordan No 1 NS which has an application for refurbishment works. St.Joseph’s College in Newport have made an application for an extension and it too has been waiting patiently.
Seven projects have a band rating of Three and three projects have a band rating of Four.
The Minister for Education and Science, Batt O’Keeffe TD, today [Tuesday] announced details of 52 school building projects which can now go to tender and construction as part of the Government’s €579 million school building programme.
Five North Tipperary schools are named, which had been earlier sanctioned to further progress their building work.
Borrisokane will also receive funds for a ‘Special Needs Autism Unit’. This unit is designed to compliment as a second level outlet to the recently announced special needs unit in Puckane National School.
Last year, over 32 large-scale projects in primary and post-primary schools were completed.
The Government’s capital programme for schools and colleges this year are forecast to create 7,300 jobs in the construction industry. (Well that’s according to the Minister for Education and Science.)
‘Last year 967 schools benefited from small-scale projects undertaken under the Summer Works Scheme, while 1,700 schools received the go-ahead to carry out works under the Energy Efficiency Scheme,’ said Minister O’Keeffe.
These projects nationally are expected to create 23,000 new school places for children, through the building of 20 new schools and extensions.
Presented by Teagasc and the Irish Bioenergy Association, the National Bio-Energy Conference 2010 will take place at the Tipperary Institute (TI) in Thurles on the 18th February 2010.
Teagasc and IrBEA
The theme of the 2010 Conference – ‘Developing and Financing Bio-energy‘ – is appropriate, given the challenges currently faced at the different stages of developing a bio-energy project.
The line-up of expert panel speakers, will see bio-energy business developers tell the story behind their respective projects, whether this be based on wood energy, cereal crops or bio-fuels.
This conference is of interest to a broad audience including, farmers/landowners, consumers with large energy requirements, project developers, policy makers/regulators, legal advisers/consultants, business analysts/planners, economists/financial advisers technical/engineering managers, finance directors/financial controllers and finally energy purchasers/facilities managers.
Attendance fees include lunch and refreshments served during the conference.
Conference Fee: (For IrBEA and Teagasc members) – €50 . Conference Fee: (For non-IrBEA and Teagasc members, and delegates registering on the day) – €100 .
To download the Conference brochure and to reserve a place at this Conference – Click Here
Further to the new programme for government announced last October, Five new primary level teaching positions will be allocated to schools in Tipperary.
Schools benefiting are:-
In Thurles – Scoil Naisuinte na Maighne, Thurles, Co. Tipperary and Slieveardagh NS, The Commons, Thurles, Co Tipperary.
In Bansha – Tankerstown NS, Bansha, Co.Tipperary.
In Carrick on Suir – Upper Newtown NS, Carrick on Suir Co.Tipperary.
In Clonmel – Powerstown NS, Clonmel, Co Tipperary.
These schools benefiting are schools that had previously lost out marginally on posts because of the revision of the pupil teacher ratios last year.
Schools are expected to be officially informed by the Department of Education in the coming days.
Deputy Michael Lowry, TD who, today, announced the new teaching posts stated: “I welcome the confirmation of these teaching posts and I am continuing to work to ensure that secondary schools in similar positions in the county get the relevant posts assigned to them.”
Local schools have been invited to participate in the first stage of the nationwide 2010 Credit Union School’s Quiz competition, being run by Thurles Credit Union in the Thurles Sarsfield’s GAA Club Centre on Friday 29th January 2010 at 7.30pm.
Over 25,000 schoolchildren under the age of 13 will compete in over 300 venues throughout the 32 counties of Ireland. The questions, compiled by primary school teachers, will cover such general topics as geography, history, music, literature and sport.
This is the 19th successive year that the Schools Quiz has been organised by the Irish League of Credit Unions. It consists of two ‘knock-out’ stages, which will culminate in a National Final in Dublin in early April, when 100 qualifying teams will compete.
In addition to salvers, certificates and prizes to the winning teams’ members, the winning schools will also receive a welcome cash prize.
Further information is available from Thurles Credit Union (Telephone 0504 91700)
The Minister for Education and Science, Batt O’Keeffe TD, has told all primary and post-primary schools to close on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week due to the bad weather.
Minister O’Keeffe took the decision in the interest of the welfare of school children.
The Minister took the decision following a meeting today of the Government’s Emergency Planning Group and in the context of the poor weather outlook for the coming days.
Minister O’Keeffe stated:
“I took the decision to close all schools based on my concern for the health and safety of school children in these very challenging weather conditions. I considered, in particular, the forecast for snowfall on Sunday and Monday which will cause further disruption. Although most schools decided not to open this week and many more will take the same decision next week, I wanted to bring clarity and certainty to the position for parents and students by telling all schools to close. While it may be that some schools would have been in a position to open depending on the weather, I consider on balance that the responsible and prudent approach at this stage is to close schools in the interest of safety. I will be further reviewing the situation on Tuesday. I am taking this decision in particularly exceptional circumstances and against a backdrop of extremely bad weather conditions.”
Minister O’Keeffe stressed that the decision will not affect the local decision-making powers of school boards of management.
He further stated his Department officials will be discussing with the education partners ways in which the impact of the closures can be minimised, particularly for examination classes.
Note: Higher education institutions will make their own decisions on whether to open based on local roads and prevailing weather conditions.
Because of the unprecedented weather conditions in county Tipperary, the majority of schools, scheduled to open tomorrow, will remain closed. Schools remaining closed are:-
Upperchurch National School. Rossmore National School, Clonoulty.Ursuline Secondary school, Thurles. Scoil Angela, Thurles. St Cronin’s Services in Nenagh, Roscrea and Birr. Scoil Aongusa and Scoil Cormac in Cashel.
St. Marys Junior School in Nenagh. St Josephs College, Borrisoleigh. St Josephs Primary School in Ballingarry. Thurles CBS.Presentation Primary and Secondary schools in Thurles. Gortnahoe National school.
Lissenhall NS Nenagh. Naoinra Aon Do Tri ( CBS Nenagh). Slieveardagh N S. The Commons NS. Silvermines N S. Ballagh NS, Clonoulty. Littleton NS. Clonmore NS, Templemore. Drom NS.
Ballinure NS, Killenaule. Lios na mBroc in Coalbrook. Presentation Secondary Ballingarry. Two mile Borris National school. St Marys NS, Killenaule. Barnane NS. Glengoole NS. Scoil Bhride, Fantane.
Our Ladys Secondary School Templemore. Sacred Heart Primary, Roscrea. Gortagarry NS, Toomevara. CBS Carrick on Suir. Kilruane NS. Comeragh College. Scoil Mhuire, Greenhills.
St Ailbe’s Secondary school, Tipp town. Scoil Mhuire, Lismackin, Roscrea. St Marys NS in Clogheen. Ragg NS. Leugh NS. Holy Family NS, Templetuohy.
Schools Likely To Open Tomorrow
Holycross NS. St Jospehs School, Templemore. CBS Primary and Secondary Schools in Nenagh. Cashel Community School. Two Primary Schools in Cahir. Ballylooby NS. Scoil Mhuire in Borriskane.
Three pieces of good news with regard to education in County Tipperary were announced to-day.
(1) The Education Minister Mr Batt O’Keeffe, has stated he will now not be following the recommendation of the McCarthy Report, which called for the clousure of the Tipperary Institute campuses here at Thurles and Clonmel. This follows an all party, all county campaign to retain the third level Institute . However it is not as yet known the future plans which brought about his decision.
(3) Agreement to proceed to tender and construction for an extensive overhaul of Nenagh Vocational School has been also been given the nod. Work to be undertaken will include a new roof, eight new classrooms, science and music rooms together with a new gym.
All in all a good day for education and hopefully future employment in Tipperary.
Backbencher Ms Maire Hoctor TD, who was sacked as a Junior Minister by Taoiseach Brian Cowen last year, was not present for a number of tight votes in Dail Eireann recently.
Truth is that in the past three weeks Ms Hoctor has only voted possibly twice out of 18 votes which were signalled. This includes one vote last week that saw the Government scrape through by a meagre two votes.
The Tipperary North TD is a constituency colleague of Independent TD Michael Lowry, who claims to have his own private deal with the Fianna Fail Government. This deal, which has seen Mr Lowry claim credit for a series of capital projects in Ms Hoctor’s constituency, is said to be quietly causing serious tension in the Fianna Fail camp. Political whispers claim Ms Hoctor is growing increasingly unset with the way in which Mr Lowry was being allowed to wheel and deal with the Boss, her party leader, Brian Cowen.
A spokesman for the Government Chief Whip Pat Carey last night said he was aware Ms Hoctor did not vote on a number of recent issues. So was Ms Hoctor given a pairing by the whips office so that she could miss the string of votes? We can’t confirm, but ahead of tomorrow’s important Budget vote, Mr Carey has implemented a three-line whip which requires the presence of all Fianna Fail TDs.
According to the local scholarly political pundits “Presently, every pothole patched in the constituency of North Tipperary, credit is claimed by Michael Lowry. Anything of a positive nature that is implemented or promised, he’s claiming it’s part of this special deal with Brian Cowan”.
While the Government is still expected to win the majority of the votes tomorrow, thus avoiding an immediate General Election, the result would be very tight without the presence of Ms Hoctor.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch in North Tipperary yesterday, Deputy Michael Lowry has welcomed confirmation from the Minister for Education and Science, Mr Batt O’Keefe TD that Scoil Nasuinta Cronain Naofa at Dromakeenan, just outside Roscrea in Ms Hoctor’s neck of the coral, has got the go ahead for their long awaited building project. The scale of works approved is for a three classroom extension, a new GP room, along with refurbishment and associated works on the older parts of the school.
In the coming days the Building unit of the Department of Education will contact the school to allow them to issue the ‘Letter of Acceptance’ that will enable them to award the building contract to the winning building tender. It is hoped that works will be completed over the summer holidays at the end of the current school year.
Deputy Lowry stated:
“I am delighted that building will finally commence for this project, as they have been waiting for the go-ahead since 2007. The school has proven itself to be very progressive in recent years, and has set up an autism unit that serve the people of Roscrea and its surrounds. I have been working with the school and with other public representatives to get a favourable outcome on this case and the Ministerial order (See Above) that has been issued today comes on foot of a concerted lobbying campaign dating back two years since the contractor had been selected in 2007.”
The Tipperary Institute will definitely close if a long term viable future is not immediately secured.
North Tipperary Independent Deputy Michael Lowry, says the college must now have a workable plan for the future before the Minister for Education, Mr Batt O’Keeffe will lift the threat of closure.
“An Bord Snip Nua”, charged with finding billions in savings, across all Government departments and the public sector, has recommended that the Tipperary Institute should be abolished as part of proposed rationalisation measures and the campus be disposed of for the benefit of the Exchequer.
Members of the Board of Directors of Tipperary Institute are expected to meet their colleagues from Limerick Institute of Technology over the coming months for initial talks on a possible future relationship.
Meanwhile the Ursuline Convent Secondary School here in Thurles is numbered among the countries Top Ten feeder schools for Third Level Education in Ireland. It comes as no great surprise to locals, that the Ursuline Convent had a 100% record this year with all 134 members of its 2009 Leaving Certificate Class going on to further third level education. Well done Ursulines.
Here is a thought – I wonder is Sister Berchmans on the Board of Directors of the Tipperary Institute and if not, why not? Maybe it is time that the Minister for Education and Science, who governs the Institute, appointed directors who have a real passion,coupled with a proven record in education.
To quote the Ursuline Order’ s school motto “Many hands build a house, So many hearts make a school”.
Anyone have workable plans out there that you would like to share with us? It would save us having to take to the streets again.
“There are 41 schools in North Tipperary that have made applications for major capital building works to the Department of Education. Five of these projects will now advance to the next stage as announced by Minister Batt O’Keeffe but it is my role in opposition to highlight the needs of the remaining schools and ensure Government Deputies in North Tipperary honour commitments made. The urgency of the situation cannot be underestimated with only five out of 41 schools, or 12%, moving to the next stage in North Tipperary. With new applications continuously being submitted to the Department of Education, this Government has a long way to go and supporting Deputies should not be blowing their own trumpets just yet.
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