Star of the Sea Primary School
Passage West, County Cork Roll No. 20105C

1985 Letter from Department of Education, agreeing to 'New School' to replace Convent Building.

IMPORTANT MILE STONES:

1990 In September '99, amalgamation of St. Mary's Convent N.S. and Scoil Cholmcille Boys National School: St. Mary's was condemned as too costly to repair and hence amalgamation.
Sanction for new school granted by then Minister of Education, Micheál Martin (Fianna Fail):
- new school to be built in tandem with Scoil Nioclais, Frankfield, Cork which has now been built;
- project was to take two years. Difficulty in getting site;
- the school to be a 16-classroom building.

2002 St. Mary's abandoned due to dry rot and a damning Fire Officer's Report.

2005 Site purchased for new school in February '05.

2007 Explosion in population in Passage West:
* 1,200 house completion by 2008;
* further zoning for another 1,000 dwellings.

Projection of enrollments in Primary School:
current: 311 pupils;
in next 3 years: 450+ pupils.

Why urgency?
- present accommodation of prefabs and old boys' school not sufficient to meet demands;
- room sizes do not conform to Department of Education's own guidelines;
- no running water in 7 of 12 classrooms;
- toilet a distance from classrooms;
- no staff toilet in "Boys Building";
- playing field now occupied by prefabs;
- School Hall being used as classroom, so many traditional events (Santa's visit, World Book Fair, etc.) have to be cancelled;
- car park in playground;
- computer room now used as resource room;
- staff room being used by language support teacher.

2007 Serious defect in prefabs discovered. Floors are in danger of collapse due to "wet rot resulting from poor ventilation" (Loss Adjusters report).
"Boys Building" is a fire risk as outlined in Fire Officer's report. The renewal of school insurance is in doubt.

March 2008 Delivery of New Portacabin to house 5th class that presently is using the School's Hall, is being delayed by D.E.S.

September 2008 Two further Portacabins needed: 1 for Language Support for non-nationals;1 for new Junior Infants class.

If these Portacabins are not supplied, most of the Junior Infants will have no place in September 2008.
No more room on site for Portacabins after September 2008, almost no playground left and no carpark for staff.