National school amalgamation plan put forward for Belturbet

The Department of Education is weighing up a request from St Mary's Boys national school in Belturbet to amalgamate with the neighbouring Convent of Mercy.

The request is currently with the Schools Capital Appraisal Section (SCAS) whose role it is to assess school accommodation requests based on factors including demographics and local information.

Last week a joint statement was issued by the schools to parents to inform them of the proposal and progress following discussions involving a possible amalgamation of the two Catholic ethos national schools to a single site.

The process and the application made to the department was made with the prior approval of Bishop of Kilmore Martin Hayes.

The letter, issued to parents by the respective schools' Boards of Management, explained that a feasibility study on the area to include information on primary schools and childcare/ preschool facilities had been undertaken.

This was submitted along with a proposal to the Department of Education on behalf of both BoM’s on August 15, 2023.

It is proposed that the new single school site will also provide capacity for a childcare facility.

'We await a response from the Department. Furthering this project will take some time, however we endeavour to keep our school community informed,' said the letter.

In February 2022 the late Fianna Fáil councillor Sean Smith proposed the rezoning of around 17 acres of land in Belturbet for public and community with potential to develop a new school in the erneside town.

The decision for the site, adjacent to Marion Park and the local golf club, was included in the Cavan County Development Plan 2022-2028.

A spokesperson for the Department of Education confirmed to the Celt that it had received the request.

They added that the department is “considering the accommodation implications posed by such a request as well as the long-term needs of the schools. There are multiple factors being assessed as part of this consideration and officials will be in contact with the patron when this assessment is complete.”

Last week St Mary’s Boy's school in Belturbet received a visit from Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys when she confirmed the local primary school had been approved for funding towards school lunches from April 2024 onwards.

Earlier this year the Cavan-Monaghan Fine Gael TD announced plans for the roll-out of the Hot School Meals Programme to every primary school in Ireland by 2030.