A local councillor is calling on the Cavan and Monaghan CMETB to "reverse" its policy to close St Bricin's (Belturbet) and St Mogue's (Bawnboy) Colleges. The motion put forward by Cllr John Paul Feeley was passed at this week's meeting of Cavan County Council.
Speaking to Northern Sound on the matter, Cllr Feeley believes it is time official policy reflects the substantial investment in both the wishes of students, teachers, parents and wider community.
According to the Fianna Fail representative, the decision which was taken back in November of 2018 was "wrong then and is wrong now."
He added that since 2018, "significant investment" has been secured in both colleges to improve facilities for students in West Cavan.
Cllr Feeley believes that students, teachers and local communities want to see both schools prosper and that it is "essential" that the policy position of the CMETB reflects that desire to protect these schools for future generations.
"Since the decision was made back in 2018, thanks to the good work of local TD, Brendan Smith and Education Minister Norma Foley, significant investment has been secured in both colleges to improve facilities for students.
"However, we cannot always rely on there being a Minister with the sympathetic view that Norma Foley has of St Bricin's and St Mogue's. The formal policy position of Cavan Monaghan ETB must reflect the view of the students, parents, the teachers, and management in both schools and indeed the wider community.
"In recent times funding has been provided for seven additional classrooms and ancillary services in St. Mogue’s and in St Bricin’s six general classrooms, two special needs rooms a general-purpose room have also been provided and are progressing at this time.
"These important investments are a vote of confidence in both schools and their futures and highlight the need for further improvements in both campuses to address the long term needs of second level education in West Cavan. Such investment will reduce the number of students leaving the West Cavan region to attend schools in and around Cavan town which are already at over capacity."
Cllr Feeley concluded; "In the event of a change of Minister we could have a position whereby Cavan Monaghan ETB revert to its formal policy position calling for the closure of the two schools which would have a devastating effect on the entire community in West Cavan.
"Enrolments are up in both schools, the investment is having a positive effect, let us keep the momentum up and have the ETB get their policy position to match the will of the people."
