by Alan Jacques
THE decision by Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board (ETB) to lodge a planning application with Limerick City and County Council for the provision of a new secondary school in Croom has been welcomed locally.
Limerick Fine Gael TD Patrick O’Donovan believes that the provision of a modern state-of-the-art second level school for Croom is badly needed given the geographical area that it covers.
“For many years the need for a replacement school for Coláiste Chiaráin has been debated, however this Government made the decision to allocate funds for the project and to allow the project to progress and the funding is in place,” Deputy O’Donovan explained.
The West Limerick politician was also quick to point out that since the current government came to power we have seen new post primary schools in Doon and Kilmallock, with approval also granted to extend Desmond College in Newcastle West and Coláiste Iosaef in Kilmallock.
“These projects, together with the fact that a new primary school is under construction in Kilmallock, together with numerous extensions and refurbishments to primary and secondary school across the county over the last five years proves the commitment of Fine Gael in Government to delivering to education here in County Limerick,” he said.
Deputy O’Donovan plans to meet with the ETB again in the coming weeks to review progress on the Croom school project.
“I am anxious to see this project completed and I will continue to work closely with the ETB in the months ahead.”
Independent General Election candidate for County Limerick, Cllr Emmett O’Brien, also welcomed the planning application.
“I hope this is a true statement of intent and that an adequate school will be provided for the students of Croom instantly and that this is not a PR exercise. The students in Croom need to be taken out of prefabs and given a modern school, a message I am hearing repeatedly from the people of Croom,” said Cllr O’Brien.
