Newry Armagh Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

MEETING FAILS TO RESOLVE CROSSMAGLEN SCHOOL CONCERNS

Published: 21 November, 2008

Slieve Gullion area Sinn Fein Councillor, Terry Hearty has expressed his disappointment that the recent meeting involving SELB Transport Officials at St Patrick's Primary School in Crossmaglen to resolve issues of serious concern in relation to the safety and well being of the young children who use the school had failed to alleviate any concern that parents and school representatives had "We were there to witness at first hand the dangers. Despite the fact that the SELB officials witnessed in particular lady leave the school almost reversed across by a car in the middle of the mayhem, they said that we do not meet the criteria for someone to help manage children and traffic in the locality of the school" said Terry who explained that what was happening at St Patrick's was as a result of a decision by the SELB Transport Management who in May last year targeted the south Armagh area and removed 75 children who were on concessionary transport buses. "Many of us see this as penny pinching irrespective of the safety and well-being of our children" stated the Sinn Féin elected representative. The Councillor who has supported the request for the provision of buses to facilitate those who were removed and the need for traffic Control Warden outside the School said, "There is a complete lack of trust or confidence in the SELB Transport Management. Whilst it is convenient for them to justify their decisions by referring to their audits, analysis and priorities, as a Public representative I am accountable to the community and they feel angered and frustrated that their genuine concerns have been ignored. I will continue to highlight the issue and seek its satisfactory resolving". He concluded by stating that his colleague Councillor Mick Murphy a member of the SELB, who had attended the meeting and observed the dangers, would be raising the matter with the Board. "The safety of children has to be our first priority" said the Sinn Féin Councillor