Dublin South East Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Doolan Slams Education Minister

Published: 11 February, 2004

Sinn Féin Representative Daithí Doolan has slammed Minister for Education claiming "Noel Dempsey has abdicated all responsibility as education minister in refusing to make funds available to keep St Mary's secondary school open."

St Mary's on Dublin's Haddington Road, was forced to announce it's closure due to lack of funds. Mr. Doolan wrote to the Minister in an attempt to keep St Mary's Secondary School open.

Doolan said, "I appealed to the Minister Noel Dempsey hoping he would guarantee the future of the school. The Minister has unfortunately put a price on the heads of the pupils' education. This is simply not good enough.

I will be meeting with the parents tonight and I will be putting it to them that we must now step up the campaign. We will not let the Minister simply ignore us. We have the backing of the parents, pupils, staff and Trustees in this battle. And it is a battle that we must win.

Have no doubt after tonight's meeting we will come out more determined than ever to keep the only girl's secondary school in this part of Dublin open."