Ballyfermot campaign demands end to broken promises over new school campus
Parents, students, staff and the community have all come together to demand the delivery of a long-promised secondary school building in Ballyfermot.
The hall of St. Seton’s Secondary School was packed last night as a meeting organised by An Tús Nua highlighted a school split between two different sites. Teachers say having to commute across two campuses on a daily basis is having an impact on students’ learning and wellbeing.
The depth of concern across Ballyfermot and Cherry Orchard is strong as the community are collectively calling for urgent progress and delivery of a new building to meet their needs. The history behind the situation goes back to 2023, when three secondary schools - Caritas College, St John's College De La Salle, and St Dominic's College - were amalgamated to form St. Seton's Secondary School.
The amalgamation came under government assurance that a new, modern, single-site campus would be built at the St John's site on Le Fanu Road. However, families previously spoke about being sold “lies” with Sinn Fein TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh stating what was supposed to be a progressive step forward ended up stalling, leading to fears there would be no new building until at least 2030.
However, the community feels they have waited long enough as staff have stretched themselves to deliver high-quality education daily across an illogical split campus. The meeting has called for a clear timeline for the new building, to seek tangible progress toward construction, and to continue putting pressure on the Department of Education.
Keith O’Brien, Chairperson of An Tús Nua and longstanding teacher at St. Seton’s, said: “Tonight showed the strength and unity of this community. Our students deserve better, and we will continue to advocate until this project is delivered.”
In attendance was local Sinn Fein Councillor Daithi Doolan who explained that the school buildings are in serious need of upgrading with little money to carry out essential repairs and maintenance. He passed a motion at the South Central Area Committee meeting calling on the Minister for Education to act.
“I strongly believe if the Minister could see for herself these poor conditions she will give the green light for the new school as soon as possible. Dublin MEP Lynn Boylan also visited the school. She too has given a commitment to actively support the campaign for a new school and has written to the Minister for Education urging her to release funding for a new school as soon as possible,” he said.
“Tonight’s public meeting adds to the growing momentum for a new secondary school for St. Seton's in Ballyfermot. The community are absolutely united in demanding a secondary school for Ballyfermot. This government can find €500m for farmers and hauliers , so they could easily find money to build a new secondary school here in Ballyfermot.
“It is unacceptable that young people are being treated so poorly by this minister. The government pride themselves on having a record budget surplus, it is high time that some of this funding is invested in Ballyfermot’s young people. I am calling on the Minister to visit the school and give a public commitment to having this new school built as a matter of urgency.”
The campaign has outlined their next steps to achieve their goals, as parents, teachers and children plan to deliver postcards written by students and a petition from attendees to the gates of Leinster House. They wish to showcase their collective determination under the call to arms, ‘one voice is a whisper - 500 voices is a roar.’
Principal Sarah Green commented on the meeting: “Tonight, the community of St. Seton’s Secondary School has made its voice heard - and that voice will continue to grow until the new school building is delivered.”
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