By Denis O’Brien
denis.obrien@leitrimpost.com

The Minister of Education has hit out at the Ballinamore Parents Association for plaguing her department and asking for daily updates on the new school.
Speaking at the opening of the revamped Aughrim national school last Thursday morning in Hillside, Minister Hanafin said she had personally met with the parents from the school and that the plan was in action.
“They were reassured by the Department and given every guarantee that they would be on the next design team list. I really cannot understand why they are ringing the Department every single day and on to my office and why are they holding another meeting,” the Minister angrily told the Leitrim Post.
Asked when the next design team list would be announced, the Minister replied, “I don’t know when it will but they will be on it.”  
The Department purchased the new school site recently having promised back in 2000 to move as “a matter of urgency” to build the new community school.

Incorrect information
Chairperson of the Ballinamore Parents Association Maureen Martin voiced her outrage at the comments by the Minister, and said her remarks that the delay with the purchase of the new site was due to complication with the Residential Redress Board were incorrect.
 “The Minster should get her facts right before she starts talking. The Ballinamore school site was never tied up with the Residential Redress Board. That was the Mohill school site. The Ballinamore Parents Association has never picketed and it’s our right as taxpayers and parents to contact her office every day and every minute of the day if we want to.  We have taken her word that we would be put on the next design team list, and design team or no design, we just want it fast tracked designed and built,” she said after the 7th public school meeting held on the evening of the Minister’s visit.
After the meeting, Chairman of the Leitrim County Council, Councillor Damien Brennan voiced his anger at the Minister’s remarks.
“There is no reason why it should take seven years to buy a site, and I am appalled that the Minister would scold the people of Ballinamore for making representations in relation to the school and who are now into their eight year waiting for a school that was promised to be delivered as a matter of urgency,” he said.