• Funding signed off on by Education Minister
• Follows funding allocation for St Aidan’s NS in Shannon

Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe has welcomed the confirmation that funding has been secured to build a two-classroom Special Educational Needs base at St Tola’s National School in Shannon.

Minister Norma Foley has signed off on the project, which will play a part in addressing the shortage of SEN facilities in the county.

“I’m delighted to have received the confirmation today that funding has officially been approved for this project at St Tola’s NS,” said Deputy Crowe.

“This will see two brand new SEN base classrooms constructed there, which will help bolster the existing SEN resources serving Shannon and its surrounding hinterlands.

“There was a time up to the mid-90s were SEN kids weren’t properly catered for but thankfully that all changed with the Educational Act and various other pieces of legislation.

“As a teacher who has taught many kids with special educational needs, I’m all too aware that the legislation is only worthwhile if the resources and supports are actually in place to cater for those children’s needs.

“St Aidan’s NS, just around the corner, has also been approved funding in recent weeks for emergency electrical works so it’s all looking positive for school kids in Shannon at present.

“The past few weeks have been tough on children with special educational needs and for their families and hopefully with the agreement struck now to return to classrooms there is an end in sight to that.

“I am aware, too, that there is significant concern in Shannon and its surrounding areas about the lack of facilities for second-level SEN pupils and I continue to engage with Minister Foley with a view to finding a solution to that.”

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• Fears for Broadford post office branch after 190 years
• Latest example of decline in network

Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe is calling for tangible action from government in addressing the decline in the country’s post office network.

It comes amid uncertainty about the future Broadford’s post office, which has been in operation in the village since 1831.

The branch closed in the leadup to Christmas on compassionate grounds but there is now major concern that it will close for good once the current operator retires.

“The loss of this post office in Broadford has hit the community hard,” said Deputy Crowe.

“I raised this in the Dáil last week with Minister Eamon Ryan and told him about the proud 190-year history of this branch.

“James O’Brien is the latest in a long line of postmasters in Broadford and after guiding the post office through probably its most challenging business period in its nearly two-century long history, deserves to put his feet up now when he retires.

“However, the end of his working life should not mark the end of a post office for Broadford.

“If it’s withdrawn at this stage, it won’t come back and now with people working remotely there’s a greater need than ever for post offices and all forms of communication to be accessible in rural communities.

“People are being asked to instead consider travelling 15km to Ardnacrusha, or to Tulla or Kilkishen. This isn’t feasible for all and with poor public transport, excludes those without access to a car in many respects.

“The reality of 21^st century working is that there are now a number of small businesses working from home in the Broadford area and these people often have to nip out and go down to the post office to receive or post parcel or package and losing out on the branch on their doorstep would hugely discommode them.

“Dublin City Council are progressing plans to develop white-water rafting in city at a cost of €22 million. At the same time, Grant Thornton has found that it would cost €17m per annum to keep Ireland’s network of post offices afloat – this would plug their shortfall.

“It’s completely non-sensical that €22m would be spent on a vanity project in the capital while the vital network of rural post offices face shutdown – it’s another example of how communities outside of the main urban centres are being left to flounder and it simply can’t continue.”

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