Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the witnesses for appearing before the committee to discuss this issue. Obviously, I have an interest in this matter because of the proposed amalgamation of North Monastery primary school in Cork with another school. I have listened with interest to what Mr. Bennett had to say in relation to primary schools, namely, that the ERST is the trustee but not the patron. I do not know if anybody has yet said that to the bishop of Cork, because at the time it was proposed to amalgamate the two schools and to close the North Monastery primary school, he stated on several occasions to local media, parents and at public meetings that he was not the patron of the school. One can understand, then, from where the confusion arises. We were told that the proposal to close the North Monastery primary school had come from the ERST. Mr. Bennett will be aware that there is a primary school and a secondary school on the campus about which we are speaking. Despite the fact that both are located on one campus, the ERST is patron of the secondary school but not of the primary school.

There is a still a lot of confusion in Cork on the future of the North Mon primary school and I hope that we can clear up some of it today.

One of the reasons given at the time for the proposed amalgamation of the school with St. Vincent's primary school was falling school numbers at the North Mon. There is currently a proposal by parents to enrol junior enfants which has the support of the teaching staff at the North Mon. As the delegation will be aware, the North Mon only enrols from first class upwards but there is a move to rectify the situation which would address some falling numbers. Obviously the initiative would have a knock-on effect for primary schools in the area such as North Presentation so there must be discussion on the matter.

I ask the delegation to take me through what is the crux of the matter. We did not have this meeting at the time, which is unfortunate, because people were unavailable. Therefore, we are still not clear in Cork about the future of the North Mon primary school. We know that any proposal, at this time, to amalgamate or close the primary school is off the table. However, we do not know whether discussions are taking place in the background between the patron and the trustees on the future of the primary campus. We know that there are moves in regard to the second school in terms of intake. This year three sixth classes will leave the school this year but there are only two classes coming in at a time when there is a desire and demand for three classes, not just from the local community, but also from the teaching staff and principal of the school. As a result, some students have not been accepted into the North Mon Aonad Gaelach secondary school and have been forced to find educational needs in schools elsewhere, outside of the community.

At every opportunity, when these questions were asked, particularly of ERST, we were told that it was an issue for the bishop. When we asked him we were told it was an issue for ERST. Parents did not get answers. Confusion has been generated because ERST is the patron of the secondary school but not of the primary school. There may have been cross-wires regarding this issue. The bishop has said that he is not the patron and ERST is saying that it is not the patron but both schools are on the one campus. The confusion over the matter has fed into uncertainly in the community.

Let me turn to a wider issue. Is it true that the proposals to amalgamate or close the primary schools under the trusteeship of ERST do not come from ERST but the bishop, school staff or the community? Is it true that ERST does not put forward proposals to close or amalgamate primary schools? Obviously if a proposal is made to the board of ERST it will be considered.

Finally, I seek information on the consultation process that would be undertaken on foot of a proposal to amalgamate or close a primary school. What has happened in Cork is unfortunate and lessons must be learned by everyone, including ourselves and ERST. In that situation the principals of the four schools were called to a meeting and told that the North Mon primary school was closing, that a decision had been made by ERST to close it and the bishop's hands were tied. That is what was said. A campaign was then undertaken to reverse the decision. It could have been avoided if people had been aware of the process which should be undertaken if a proposal is made. Where did the proposal come from? Was it from ERST or from the bishop?