Three schools on one campus

Buncrana Mayor Dermot McLaughlin has warmly welcomed the “first step” in the development of an educational campus which will incorporate three local schools.In a first for Donegal, Crana College in Buncrana, Gaelcholáiste Chineál Eoghain and Gaelscoil Bhun Crannacha are to be situated together on the one campus.The Department of Education is also planning to develop the new Crana College into a 500 student school.The Vocational Education Committee (VEC) is now seeking propositions for the acquisition of a suitable site for establishing the development.The committee is proposing the site should be “approximately 12 acres in size, with adequate road frontage within a two kilometre radius of Buncrana town centre. “Mayor McLaughlin, who also sits on the committee of the VEC, said the campus was “something we’ve been pushing for a long time.”He said: “Crana College is on a very restricted site, it’s in a residential area and there have been parking difficulties there. The Gaelcholáiste is in temporary accommodation and enrolment at the Gaelscoil students is increasing every year. “The amalgamation of the three schools on the one site will give them extra opportunities, extend their resources and recreation facilities, and benefit the entire community as a whole.“It is the first time this has happened in Donegal. It’s also the first time two All-Irish schools are on the same campus as an all-English speaking school. Another advantage is the primary school will be on the same campus as the two secondaries. This will show the primary students what they can expect from secondary education.“This new development is very important for the area’s young people as education is vitally important.“Crana College is continually expanding – in fact it is applying for two new prefabs for the incoming school year. It is getting bigger and we need to help it move on. The Gaelcholáiste and the Gaelscoil are fantastic resources and should be aided and supported in every way.“The campus is also great news for the community. It shows how serious we are about educating our young people and how the Department is taking the expanding area into account. “It’s also important for decentralisation, the Irish language is extremely important in the civil service and makes the area even more attractive.“I welcome this first step in achieving something which will have a huge benefit for the entire area for many years to come.”Landowners interested in the sale of a site – meeting the criteria – should express their interest by requesting and completing a Pre-Qualification Site Acquisition Form which can be obtained from Mr Sean O’Longain, Chief Executive Officer, Co Donegal VEC, Ard O’Donnell, Letterkenny before 12noon on Friday, 15 August.