Mercy school may be sold off following ‘merger’

The Government has definitively ruled out funding a gym or technology room for the amalgamated Mercy and Presentation school, putting the onus firmly back on the patron to cough up for the facilities.

During a debate in the Seanad, the junior minister in the Department of Education, Damien English, said there was a policy in place to prioritise funding for teaching facilities.

He suggested that money raised from either the sale or rent of the Mercy building once it is empty could be used to fund resources such as gyms and computer suites.

“It is difficult to see how the Department could give a commitment on the gym. Resources are tight and the majority is being used to try to fund additional accommodation for new pupils so as to meet demographic demands throughout the country. This is the policy currently,” he told the Seanad.

“The Department has been trying to maximise accommodation for new pupils throughout the country. The majority of funding, which is taxpayers’ money, is being used to build new classrooms as opposed to other facilities.”

When pushed by Senator Fidelma Healy Eames on the importance of not leaving the pupils without a gym, Deputy English said now was the time to have a conversation about whether the other site can release resources to fund a gym.

“I presume that when the two schools are being amalgamated, there might be an opportunity to realise some finance from the site that will not be used. It is a local issue, but this possibility should be considered. There will be an opportunity to use the site for something else that could generate an income that could contribute to a gym.”

The Presentation site has been chosen by the patron of the two schools, CEIST (Catholic Education, an Irish Schools Trust) as the site where the new amalgamated school will be located.

However, that has angered some parents and students from the Mercy, who insist their facilities are superior to those in the Presentation, which has no gym, hot food kitchen, performance hall or modern technology room. The school uses the pool in NUIG, the rowing club and a local hall for its sporting needs.

Dr Marie Griffin, CEO of Ceist, said last week that students could be assured that facilities will be provided in the Presentation site to ensure they can access the full curriculum.

“CEIST, as patron, will engage with the Department of Education and Skills in relation to the provision of any identified deficits in the site.”

The Presentation site was recommended by independent consultants as it “requires the least amount of re-modelling of the existing structure and has the potential for expansion to accommodate a combined curriculum and additional teaching spaces”.

Senator Healy Eames said the department must re-evaluate its policy of not funding gyms, which was forcing schools like the Presentation and Salerno in Salthill to “beg and scrape” for sporting facilities outside of the school grounds.