TD calls for Minister for Education to intervene in Kildare school closure

A Kildare TD has urged the Minister for Education to intervene to reopen a Clane primary school that will close from this coming Monday, January 12.

Hewetson National School, Millicent, Clane has this lunchtime emailed parents informing them that they will be closing the school following guidance from the Fire Safety Officer on the basis that a fire alarm system is not compliant.

“The school has had a company ready to install a brand-new, state-of-the-art fire alarm system for some time, but the matter is awaiting funding approval from the Department through the Emergency Works Grant process”, Social Democrats TD, Aidan Farrelly said today.

“In fact, they have been actively pursuing this funding since last November.

“My office has emailed the Minister to expedite this funding situation. This is simply not good enough.

“We have had parents of children getting in touch with us, concerned at the disruption to their children’s education, as well as the disruption to their family and working life as a result of having to take time off work to care for their children.

“Things should never have gotten to this point – and the Minister must act to get this school re-opened as quickly as possible.

“These children’s education should not be disrupted like this for the sake of bureaucracy.”

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