Speech by Minister Devins at the Official Opening of Dromore West Central National School

Friday 7th November 2008

Bishop Fleming, Reverend clergy, Members of the Board of Management, teachers, former teachers, parents, friends and past pupils of the school and boys and girls, I am delighted to be with you this afternoon to celebrate the official opening of this fine new building at Dromore West Central National School.

I particularly welcome the former teachers and Principal Ms Ursula Langan and teacher and former Acting Principal, Ms Breda Carey who are currently on leave from the school but who have taken the time to be here with us today. It is also wonderful to see so many people here from the wider community for this very important development for Dromore West and the wider community.

I would like to congratulate everyone involved in bringing this new building to fruition. I say a particular thank you to the former Board of Management under the leadership of Fr Gillespie. I know that this was the Board of Management which submitted the applications for the funding to the Department of Education and Science, and that it was very involved in all aspects of the project.

Along with the demolition of the existing building and development of 6 new classrooms with storage areas and ensuite facilities, 2 resource rooms, a staff room, an office, a library/computer room, a General Purpose room and a servery, the project also provides the School with a junior play area, a basketball court, a football pitch and car parking facilities.

This modern building ensures that the whole community can be proud of the facilities available to pupils and staff of Dromore West Central National School.

I would also like to congratulate Father Gillespie and the current Board of Management who were involved with the progression and finalisation of the project and who organised this opening here today.

I know that Father Gerry Gillespie was also instrumental in arranging the use, by the school, of the old church for classes while the project was ongoing and I thank him and the local community for that generosity.

I know also that previous Boards of Managements and parents of pupils in the school over many years have provided great support to the school and have always been available to give practical help when it was required and I thank them for that.

I know that the Boards of Management would agree with me in saying that this work would never have been achieved without the hard work and commitment of Mrs Áine Mullarkey, the current Acting Principal here in Dromore West Central along with her colleagues Mrs Ursula Langan and Mrs Breda Carey during their respective times in the role of Principal in the school.

I would like to congratulate all of them along with the other permanent members of staff, Mrs Nicola Duffy and Mrs Pamela Cawley and the rest of their dedicated teaching staff on the achievement of these wonderful new facilities for the school.

Raising funding in a small community for a project of this nature is a significant undertaking and requires dedicated people who are willing to be generous with their time and effort.

The organisation of the Lotto syndicate, Raffles, Sponsored Walks and collection envelopes are just some of the events which have galvanised the support of the whole community and have resulted in the school being able to carry out this wonderful project. I thank the members of the Fundraising Committee for all of this hard work.

This Committee could not have been successful without the assistance and support of Parents, Pupils and the wider community and I thank all of you for that support.

Many thanks also to the Department of Education & Science for the funding provided to ensure that planning for these new facilities came to fruition in the fine building we are opening officially today.

The highly commendable commitment of Dromore West Central National School to physical activity and sport for all of its pupils, at a time when physical fitness of our youth is very much of concern, is evident by the importance placed on provision of sporting and fitness facilities in the school and by the way in which Dromore West Central National School fosters and promotes an interest in sports.

The school has been particularly successful in football with the boys having secured a title in the Cumann na mBunscoil competition in 2005 and the girls having been finalists in the same year. Indeed the loyalty and commitment of pupils, staff, parents and the wider school community has been recognised through the award of the “Most Colourful Supporters” title to the school.

The complete refurbishment of the school grounds including the Ball Court, the Games Pitch and the junior playing area will assist the school’s ongoing encouragement of physical activity.

In tandem with its emphasis on physical activity, the school also promotes an awareness of healthy eating among its pupils and I know that the parents and pupils have fully engaged with the school’s healthy lunch policy. As a Medical Doctor, I am convinced of the benefits of exercise and healthy eating for children and adults alike and I congratulate the school for this. The new Servery will assist the school in promoting this policy.

Dromore West Central National School has always had a keen interest in promoting Science for its pupils and its participation in the Primary Science week is a demonstration of the commitment of the staff to equipping their pupils to live in a modern world where technology encompasses everything we do.

As Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, I have no doubt that science and engineering will be the key to Ireland's knowledge economy for the future. The new Library and Computer Room will be a valuable resource to the staff of Dromore West Central National School in their efforts to encourage scientific enquiring minds among their pupils.

The new environment in the school will allow the school to explore new opportunities to provide an enhanced educational experience for its pupils. Already this year, the school has applied for its green flag. It is great to see the whole school getting involved in projects like this, which not only benefit the students and the school but also benefits the environment.

I congratulate the Design team including the Architect, Colin Bell, the Quantity Surveyor, Mulcahy Mc Donagh and Partners, the Mechanical and Electrical Engineers Cogan & Shackelton and the structural Engineers Jennings O’Donovan for their wonderful work.

It is clear that together with the main contractor Kilrehil Brothers Ltd, the mechanical sub contractor McKelvey & Martin Ltd and the electrical sub contractor Eamonn Mc Gurran & Sons Ltd, you have delivered a wonderful learning environment for the children of Dromore West and the surrounding areas.

In conclusion, thank you most sincerely for the invitation here this afternoon. We should be very proud of the energy and vision of the Principal, Ursula Langan and her colleagues Former Acting Principal Breda Carey and the current Acting Principal Aine Mullarkey, the dedication of the teaching staff and the commitment of Board of Management and parents. Together you make a formidable team.

One of my most pleasant tasks is to meet parents and children on occasions such as this and I am delighted to see these wonderful developments, here in Dromore West Central National School. I wish all of you every success.

ENDS/IP73