The Loyalist Communities Council (LCC) has called on the Education Minister to immediately halt any proposal to build an Irish language school in “the mainly unionist area of east Belfast”.
Representatives from the LCC, led by chair David Campbell, met with Paul Givan earlier today and said they had told the DUP Minister that any proposed school “has no meaningful support from the local unionist and loyalist population and no consultation had taken place with local residents”.
In June, Belfast City Council gave the green light for a proposed temporary nursery and primary school, a soft play area, new access, parking, landscaping, and ancillary site works at lands adjacent and east of 44 Montgomery Road, east Belfast, with the applicant Bunscoil na Seolta of Glenmachan Road.
Temporary plans were passed by Belfast City Council for an Irish Language school in east Belfast in June
On a recorded vote, the application received 11 votes in support and five against the plan — all of which were from DUP council members.
The council had received two objections from a resident and an elected representative and nine letters of support from the public.
The two objections raised concerns about loss of employment land, so-called “incompatible land use”, insufficient transport infrastructure and parking.
The objectors raised considerations over alternative sites, sustainability, and said there was “a lack of demonstrated need”.
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Language rights activist Linda Ervine, who founded Irish language group Turas, also appeared at the planning committee meeting to represent the applicant.
A public meeting had been held in July to discuss the plans, and afterwards a Facebook page called Clonduff Community posted a message on behalf of “Clonduff Concerned Residents” claiming there had been “an inexcusable and unjustifiable lack of engagement with the local community thus far”.
The statement continued: “Irish language is clearly a politically sensitive issue and the failure to properly consult with local residents has undoubtedly angered many people within the area.
“No-one in the room this evening was against education and if people want to learn or speak Irish then they are entitled to do so.
“The concerns of people this evening were mostly about the lack of local community need or desire for an Irish language school on the proposed site, which is meant to be preserved for business purposes that will materially benefit the local area.
“There have also been multiple school closures in east Belfast over the past number of years, not least Cregagh pre-school which has been forced to close this year due to lack of funding.
“This is just the first step in a process of speaking out for the material needs of our community and challenging the unfair prioritisation of political projects over local community needs and services.”
The LCC delegation meeting the Minister also said its objective was ending educational underachievement in loyalist areas and outlined some of its pilot projects that have supported school activities in north and west Belfast.
They said the Minister was asked if the ‘Fair Start’ education strategy that had been commissioned by previous education Minister Peter Weir was still on the table to be implemented and the Minister confirmed that it remained departmental policy subject to funding.
One of the key findings of the Fair Start report was that underachievement in education was particularly high in young protestant boys, but despite providing a costed action plan, little progress has been made in addressing any of the issues raised.
The LCC delegation also emphasised support for the early intervention measures in the strategy and stressed that no child should leave primary school without being competent in core literacy and numeracy skills.
The Department of Education has been approached for comment.