Waterford’s Educate Together is to operate from the new Community Building in Lisduggan, commencing of the first day of term in September 2002.

The new state-of-the- art Community Centre offers the group the necessary space, as well as being easily accessible and complying with all the necessary Department of Education regulations. However, the school will only use the premises as a temporary measure until such time as Government funding becomes available for their own premises.

Waterford Educate Together is already looking around the city for an available site to build on or for a suitable building, as the temporary accommodation, if still available, will only be suitable for the first three or four years of the school. Noeleen Dooley, Waterford Educate Together, highlighted that they were not the only organisation struggling to find suitable accommodation, with many local voluntary groups that don’t have any premises.

She also acknowledged that no official word had been received from the Government regarding the opening of the school in the temporary accommodation but the group was aware their application was being dealt and, “the signs indicate it will be a positive response.” She also indicated that time was of the essence and that a response was needed from the Government as soon as possible so the group could go ahead and start advertising and interviewing for a principal and teachers.

Concerns have also been expressed recently by the national representative organisation “Educate Together, over the drastic reduction by the Department of Education and Science in capital available for the acquisition of sites and buildings for new schools. The national organisation felt that “channelling of all expenditure to refurbishment and renewal of the existing school stock is due to have a devastating impact on the development of the multi-denominational sector.”

“Educate Together” also highlighted that multi-denominational schools around the country are operating from temporary accommodation for large periods of time, some of them for up to eight years. However, the Waterford group remains confident of procuring the necessary funding in order to develop the school, which already has 90 students signed up for the first year. Noeleen Dooley also indicated that the Department of Education “can’t expect any more from a local group,” following the procurement of accommodation and such widespread support.

She highlighted the growing demand for such schools, with the Waterford school expected to grow by 148 students over the next six years. She pointed out that Waterford is the only city that doesn’t have an Educate Together school, despite an increasing demand by parents for a greater input into their children’s education.

Even though no official confirmation has been received from Government sources, Noeleen Dooley is confident that the school will be open to its first pupils this year.
 

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