Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Minister to reverse the decision to close St. Vincent's Secondary School, which is a publicly funded school for girls. The buck stops with her. This proposal is having a very negative and upsetting effect on many students. For the students in the wonderful Lir ASD unit, it is an extremely difficult time and they are being hugely affected. It is having a fierce effect on the pupils who will sit their leaving certificate examination next year and, in particular, the following year.

The announcement came out of the blue. Parents attended open evenings and enrolments and were never told anything about it. Not only is this process flawed, it is happening entirely behind closed doors and it is happening way too fast. The trustees, the Religious Sisters of Charity, have refused to listen to parents, teachers and especially students. The students love the school, feel supported and want to stay there. The Minister must step in and tell them this amalgamation is not going to happen.

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