"All citizens of the Irish Free State (Saorstát Eireann) have the right to free elementary education" (article 10 Constitution).

Unfortunately, the people of Passage West will be left waiting for their new school despite almost 10 years of tenacious campaigning. In 1999, the new school was formally sanctioned by the then Minister of Education, Micheál Martin. In September of that year, Scoil Colmchille Boys School and St. Mary's National School amalgamated with the promise that the construction of a new school would be imminent. As a temporary measure, pre-fabricated buildings were constructed on the present school's grounds to accommodate the pupils. Despite the fact that these buildings do not conform to the Department of Education guidelines, we are at present awaiting the delivery of another pre- fabricated classroom to be situated in the staff car park, and more than likely two further prefabs to accommodate the incoming junior infants. Goodbye playing area.

At a public meeting in 2002, Minister Martin stated that once the site for the proposed school had been purchased, a design team would be put in place, planning permission sought and construction of the school would go to tender. In 2005, a site adjacent to St. Peter's Community School was purchased and in November 2006, Star of the Sea was included in the Department of Education's building programme. We were then advised that the design team would be in place before April 2007. The waiting was over, or so we believed. Fast forward to March 2008... no sign of the promised school.

The population of Passage West is ever increasing. At present, the town has a population of circa 6,000. Statistics show that this will most likely increase to 12,000 by 2011. In other words: the population of Passage West may double in the next 3 years. Without proper infrastructure and an adequate school building, where does Minister Mary Hanafin propose to educate our children? In less than four weeks, the Department of Education will issue a new list of schools, eligible for construction. It is vital that Star of the Sea is on this list. Minister Martin must be made accountable for these false promises. It is time for us as parents to stand up and shout. Our children are entitled to an education in a safe and modern environment.

We urge all parents, families and members of Passage West community to contact Micheál Martin and other local TDs and to demand the appointment of a design team and the construction of our new school. This is an extremely urgent issue and there should be no more complacency.