Scoil Oilibhéir, a primary school in Cork City’s Ballyvolane, has been forced to permanently close its special educational needs centre, Cill Barra, due to severe structural issues that make the building unsafe for students and teachers.
The 35-year-old prefabricated building, which housed 13 teachers, was deemed structurally unsound by a consultant engineer. In a letter to parents, the school expressed deep disappointment, stating that “in 2024 no child or teacher should have to work in a building in such a poor state.”
The school has been pursuing a two-stage building programme with the Department of Education since 2011, with the first stage completed in 2016. However, funding for the second phase remains unresolved. As a result, teachers will now be forced to share spaces and work in corridors and landings.
Local politicians have raised concerns about the situation. Fianna Fáil TD Pádraig O’Sullivan has been working to resolve the issue, while Independent Ireland TD Ken O’Flynn has called on the Minister for Education to provide urgent funding.
The Department of Education confirmed the building project was approved under the Additional School Accommodation scheme and is currently reviewing additional information provided by the school. They have offered access to an emergency works scheme and arranged a technical visit to assess immediate health and safety concerns.
Despite the challenges, the school has assured parents that children will continue to receive the same level of educational support.
The closure highlights ongoing infrastructure challenges in Ireland’s education system, particularly for special educational needs facilities.