Bunscoil na Seolta has had an application approved for a temporary nursery/primary school and soft play area in lands adjacent and east of 44 Montgomery Road
Bunscoil na Seolta has had an application approved for a temporary nursery/primary school and soft play area in lands adjacent and east of 44 Montgomery Road
Amy Cochrane
Yesterday at 18:00
Councillors in east Belfast have hit back at objections submitted by DUP MLA Joanne Bunting over plans to establish an Irish language primary school in the area.
Bunscoil na Seolta, which is being set up by Irish language campaigner Linda Ervine, had temporary planning approval, granted for a site on Montgomery Road, passed by Belfast City Council’s planning committee just over a week ago.
The plans will see the new primary school housed temporarily at the site for up to five years. Bunscoil na Seolta is set to open in September after nursery school Naiscoil na Seolta opened in east Belfast in 2021.
The application received 11 votes in support, while five councillors, all DUP, opposed the plan.
The council received two objections, one from a resident and one from elected representative DUP MLA Joanne Bunting, and nine letters of support from the public.
The two objections raised concerns about loss of employment land, so-called “incompatible land use”, and insufficient transport infrastructure and parking, as well as an ecological impact assessment required over endangered bats potentially living near the site.
Ms Bunting said that she is “disappointed” by the council’s decision to approve temporary plans for the school in the area and claimed that “the local community was not properly consulted” regarding the decision.
“It’s disappointing that the council proceeded with this decision without any account of how residents felt,” she said.
“So I will be in touch with the council to ascertain whether my letter was given consideration. But as it stands, I don’t know if it was or not.”
She pointed out that a nearby nursery in the Cregagh estate is set to close due to lack of funding.
“Yet here we are with this proposal, when the bulk of the people in this area do not share an affinity with Irish culture or Irish language,” she continued.
“It’s not in keeping with the area and I don’t think there is any need for it, especially when that land is zoned for employment.”
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Ms Bunting added that the act of putting forward plans to establish an Irish language school within a loyalist area follows a “pattern of behaviour” she has witnessed in other areas of Belfast, claiming it could be seen as provocative.
“Some might suggest that this is a provoking gesture, as need in neither place has been demonstrated.
“I’m not standing in the way of any child being educated — there are numerous schools in east Belfast — but residents have expressed their concerns on this.
“I am reflecting their concerns and I will not apologise for standing up for the people whom I represent.”
Other elected representatives for the area have said that “those opposed to children being educated need to catch themselves on” and that the school is a “positive thing” for the area.
SDLP councillor Seamas de Faoite submitted a letter of support to the planning committee in relation to the application for Bunscoil na Seolta.
“It’s very clear that there are a huge number of schools in the area which are over-subscribed, and we have an increasing number of young families and kids in the area,” he said.
“I am completely dumbfounded that a political representative is going to stand in the way of a primary school and suggest that kids being educated is a threat or a danger to anybody.
“Those who are opposed to wee children getting educated — this is primary school kids [we’re talking about] here — they need to just catch themselves on.
“To me, there has been a clear attempt to make sure the school is in a place where it is open and accessible and not imposing itself on anybody. They have gone out of their way to make sure that’s the case.”
Alliance councillor Michael Long said that he has been working with the school for a number of years and that it is a “positive thing” for the area.
“The fact only two people objected to it, despite the fact it was well publicised, shows that the local community are very supportive,” he said.
“And you can see that from the number of potential applications the school has had.
“It’s frustrating that local representatives have objected to it, when really nobody else has.
“Maybe the fact it is an Irish language school is more of a concern than anything else.
“And, from my point of view, I think it’s a good thing that east Belfast is changing and becoming more inclusive and diverse. I think it’s a positive thing to have the school.
“This will be the first proper integrated school in east Belfast — and that is only to be welcomed as we try to build a shared future.”
by BelfastBodyBuilder