Minister to meet over West Cavan schools

A protest rally has been organised in support of retaining both local secondary schools, to take place at the Slieve Russell hotel.

Minister for Education, Norma Foley, has committed to meeting local elected representatives regarding the future of two West Cavan secondary schools.

The meeting secured and confirmed for Tuesday, September 28, in Leinster House was scheduled with Minister Foley by local TD Brendan Smith, at the behest of some local councillors in the Cavan-Belturbet area.

The controversial merger proposal looks amalgamate St Bricin’s in Belturbet and St Mogue’s in Bawnboy. In their place, the plan is to build a new €15 million school in neighbouring Ballyconnell.

News of the meeting later this month comes as members of the 'Save Our Schools' committee, supporting the retention of both St Bricin’s and St Mogue’s, plan to stage a protest outside the Slieve Russell where Fianna Fail are to hold their Parliamentary Party over the next two days.

A protest rally has been organised in association with the parent's associations at both local secondary schools, to take place at the hotel from 5-6pm (Thursday).

The Parliamentary Party meeting starts at 3pm.

The merger of the schools was formally approved by the Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board and sanctioned by the Department back in September 2019,

To aid efforts in finding a location, the department have hired Duff & Phelps, a US company which operates from sites in both Dublin and Longford.

A site is being sought is in the “Ballyconnell area” confirmed the department previously.