AQW 37810/11-15


Mr Phil Flanagan
Sinn Féin
Fermanagh and South Tyrone


Tabled Date: 22/10/2014
Answered On Date: 06/11/2014
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail (i) the dates of; and (ii) the individuals present at meetings to discuss the establishment of a cross border area learning community involving St. Mary's High School, Brollagh since his rejection of development proposal 256; and when he expects a pilot model to be brought forward.


Answer:
I announced my decision to turn down a development proposal to close St Mary’s High School Brollagh in June 2004.  At that time I advised that the option of cross–border collaboration needed to be examined.  I called on the Catholic Council for Maintained Schools (CCMS) and the Western Education and Library Board (WELB) to bring forward a pilot scheme which would allow the school to work with schools on the other side of the border.
The following meetings have taken place:
Date
Those Present
3 July 2014
Gerry Lundy, Deputy Chief Executive, CCMS
Gerry Murphy, Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO)
30 July 2014
Barry Mulholland, Chief Executive, WELB
Jim Clarke, Chief Executive, CCMS
Paddy Mackey, Senior Education Officer, WELB
Rosemary Watterson, Chief Administrative Officer, WELB
Pat Hughes, Chief Finance Officer
Gerry Lundy, Deputy Chief Executive, CCMS
11 August 2014
Barry Jordan, Director of Equality and All- Ireland Department of Education
Jim Clarke, Chief Executive, CCMS
Barry Mulholland, Chief Executive, WELB
16 September 2014
Pat Ward, Head of Corporate Services, WELB
Paddy Mackey, Senior Education Officer, WELB
Gerry Lundy, Deputy Chief Executive, CCMS
Lewis Love, CCMS Associate
18 September 2014
John O’Dowd, Minister for Education
Jan O’Sullivan, Minister for Education and Skills
22 September 2014
Gerry Lundy, Deputy Chief Executive, CCMS
Simon Bradley, Principal of St Mary’s Belleek
25 September 2014
Lewis Love, CCMS Associate met with a School Principal
1 October 2014
Lewis Love, CCMS Associate
Sean Rodgers, Assistant Finance Officer, WELB
3 October 2014
Barry Mulholland, Chief Executive, WELB
Shaun Purcell, Chief Executive, Donegal ETB (Education and Training Board)
21 October 2014
Gerry Lundy, Deputy Chief Executive, CCMS
Lewis Love, CCMS Associate
Pat Ward, Head of Corporate Services, WELB
Iris Barker, Head of Property Services
29 October 2014
Jim Clarke, Chief Executive, CCMS
Barry Mulholland , Chief Executive, WELB
Shaun Purcell , Chief Executive, Donegal ETB (Education and Training Board)
Discussions are continuing on a way forward.