Despite numerous attempts, the steering committee was unable to secure a meeting with the then Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Woods. It was not until it staged a two day protest outside the Department of Education and Science that he agreed to a meeting. At the time the people of Longford were disappointed that the matter had to go so far before he agreed to such a meeting. The Taoiseach had also intervened to facilitate a meeting and half promised he would do his best to continue providing education in Newtownforbes. Was it his intention to get safely beyond the general election? The subsequent outcome proved this to be the case.