response to Minister Sean Connick's reply on behalf of the Tanaiste and Minister for Education and Science, I would like to make the following points.
1)There was no major investment in the complex, despite several million allocated to the School. The Department failed to see regardless of the fact that 300,000 children on the Island of Ireland are obese, that the complex provided a vital classroom and Physical Education should be regarded with the same importance on the curriculum, as any subject.Not only for the health of the children, which should be a priority but for strategically planning for the future for cost savings to the health system for the Department.
2) Despite professional architects reports going to the department since 1974, no remedial work on the centre was carried out. The written responses from the department at the time referred always to the lack of funding available. It necessitated the closing for two years of the indoor sports hall and for many years of the outside all-weather pitch, leading to the loss of crucial income opportunities
3) When the complex did reach break even, funding just stopped completely, not only from the department but from City Council, without investment, the complex could not compete.
4) Despite the fact of investment being highlighted locally on an ongoing basis, funding was not available. it was only when this was also confirmed by an outside contractor employed by the School Board of Management that the decision was made to close the complex, 15/20 years to late.
5) The complex provided a vital community service not only to the children in the school, but to 24 other schools, and many, many local community groups and corporate entities. When St. Endas closed it was the end of an era, but it could have been so easily avoided.
Breda Deedigan
Posted on 31 Jan 2011 11:55 am
response to Minister Sean Connick's reply on behalf of the Tanaiste and Minister for Education and Science, I would like to make the following points.
1)There was no major investment in the complex, despite several million allocated to the School. The Department failed to see regardless of the fact that 300,000 children on the Island of Ireland are obese, that the complex provided a vital classroom and Physical Education should be regarded with the same importance on the curriculum, as any subject.Not only for the health of the children, which should be a priority but for strategically planning for the future for cost savings to the health system for the Department.
2) Despite professional architects reports going to the department since 1974, no remedial work on the centre was carried out. The written responses from the department at the time referred always to the lack of funding available. It necessitated the closing for two years of the indoor sports hall and for many years of the outside all-weather pitch, leading to the loss of crucial income opportunities
3) When the complex did reach break even, funding just stopped completely, not only from the department but from City Council, without investment, the complex could not compete.
4) Despite the fact of investment being highlighted locally on an ongoing basis, funding was not available. it was only when this was also confirmed by an outside contractor employed by the School Board of Management that the decision was made to close the complex, 15/20 years to late.
5) The complex provided a vital community service not only to the children in the school, but to 24 other schools, and many, many local community groups and corporate entities. When St. Endas closed it was the end of an era, but it could have been so easily avoided.