12 December 2008
Minister Trevor Sargent officially opens St George’s National School, Balbriggan – his ‘alma mater’.
Mr. Trevor Sargent T.D. Minister for Food and Horticulture at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food officially opened St. George’s National School Balbriggan today. The school has grown from a 3 teacher/ 73 pupil school to one with 16 teachers and 210 pupils. In welcoming this development of the school, the Minister said “this is a huge expansion by any yard stick and the move to this new school building is a wonderful event.“
Cutting the ribbon at St. George's School
Minister Sargent said that it was impossible to expand the original school buildings due to the lack of available space but added that the former school building will continue to be utilised in the interest of education.
The Minister went on to refer to his own experiences in St George’s prior to his becoming a T.D. Referring to the early 1990s and his time as teacher there, he stated: “I would never have foreseen the day that St George’s would grow to the extent that it has, this also reflects the massive growth in population in Balbriggan in recent times“.
Minister Sargent praised the schools in the Balbriggan area for meeting the challenges posed by newcomer children in schools in the area. He wanted “to publicly acknowledge the fact that each of the schools in Balbriggan has played a significant and pivotal role in addressing the demand for new schools places in the area.”
Referring to the issue of enrolments in general, the Minister said “I feel that the schools in the town were harshly dealt with in some media reports about the situation relating to enrolments and that “much positive engagement by schools in meeting enrolment needs were overshadowed on occasions by less than favourable coverage.”
“The fact that significant numbers of children present in the school today were not born in Ireland or whose parents were not born here brings many challenges but with these challenges comes opportunities” the Minister emphasised. He expressed total confidence in the teachers, the children and their parents in ensuring that the integration of all children continues to be a success.
Minister Sargent concluded his remarks by thanking Robert Cashell and the Board of Management for affording him the opportunity to officially open the new St George’s and by wishing every success to the School, the pupils and the teachers.
All images courtesy of C.Finn unless otherwise stated.
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