Stimulus package is great news for Galway schools as state exams begin

It may have been a day of trepidation for over 6,000 students around the city and county who began their Leaving and Junior Certs – but yesterday was also a day of celebration for at least six Galway schools who have been included in the Government’s €200 million stimulus plan designed to invest in public infrastructure and create jobs.

After a marathon battle, Clifden Community School will see the development of a completely new facility while St. Raphael’s College, Loughrea; Holy Rosary College, Mountbellew; Scoil Mhuire, Oranmore, and SN Sailearna, Inverin will be extensively refurbished and extended.

And the good news from the Department of Education didn’t stop there – because Maree National School in Oranmore has also been approved to go to tender immediately for a new school building.

But much of the focus yesterday was on the first day of the state examinations, with 2,962 Galway students sitting the Leaving Cert, a further 92 sitting the Leaving Cert Applied, and 3,206 beginning their Junior Cert.

All started with English papers, and the initial reaction was positive – pupils sitting for both the Junior and Senior Cert in Seamount College in Kinvara, for example. apparently strolled through the morning paper.

They were thrilled with it though the Leaving Certs complained they didn’t have enough time.

And yet even the pressure felt by the exam candidates was overshadowed by delight in those schools approved under the stimulus package.

Local Cllr Eileen Mannion, for example, said she was especially thrilled that the Clifden Community School was included following their very long but strong campaign to refurbish a school that has long outgrown its 400 pupils.

“It’s great news for Clifden as we were very disappointed at being left off the list last year,” said Cllr Mannion.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.