21 June, 2006 - Over €1 million extension and refurbishment at Scoil Cholmcille, Carraig Airt opened by Minister Hanafin

Small rural primary schools are a vital component and the life blood of communities - Minister Hanafin

Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin, T.D., officially opened the extension and renovation of Scoil Cholmcille, Duibhlin Riabhach, Carraig Airt, Co. Dhún na nGall.  The extension consists of four classrooms, a general purpose room plus refurbishment and alterations to the existing school to provide accommodation for a five classroom school.  The school has a current enrolment of nearly 70 pupils.

The general purpose room can be used for a variety of subjects including PE, band and drama practice.  The room is fully equipped with state of the art computer technology and means that Scoil Cholmcille will be able to fully capitalise on its recent broadband internet connection.  "Scoil Cholmcille will now be able to avail of a broadband support service being managed by the National Centre for Technology in Education to assist schools with advice and information relating to the roll-out and ongoing use of their broadband connectivity.  The overall costs of the Schools Broadband Access Programme over three years is in the region of €30 million" said Minister Hanafin.

Minister Hanafin also pointed to the additional supports that Scoil Cholmcille will avail of by participation in a new action plan for educational inclusion - DEIS.  Minister Hanafin said "this is the first time that an integrated educational inclusion strategy has been developed for three to eighteen year olds in this country."

Minister Hanafin praised the school's commitment to extra curricular activities in music and drama and said "I am not surprised that your school has had success at both Slógadh and Scór.  You have continued to foster and promote an interest in music and drama and it is clear that the staff of Scoil Cholmcille are doing a great job in helping the pupils develop a level of self confidence which will be of benefit in so many aspects of life as they grow older."
 
Highlighting the strong commitment of the Government to the School Building programme, Minister Hanafin said "between 1998 and 2005 more than €30 million has been spent on primary schools in Donegal and nearly €57 million has been spent on post-primary for the same period."

Minister Hanafin stressed the role of small rural primary schools such as Scoil Cholmcille, which first opened in 1963, as focal points in the local community and cited the Naíonra and the Club Gaeilge as just two examples of the importance of Scoil Cholmcille to the community.

Acknowledging that the school extension is set to transform the teaching and learning environment for both pupils and teachers in the Duibhlinn Riabhach area, Minister Hanafin said "modernising the facilities in all our schools is not an easy task given the legacy of decades of underinvestment in this area as well as the need to respond to emerging needs in new population areas, but I am determined to ensure that every child in this country is educated in a suitable and comfortable environment."

Ends.