Northern Ireland

East Belfast community group claims ‘lack of consultation’ over Irish language primary school plans

DUP MLA Joanne Bunting was one of two objectors to the planning application

The former site of Orangefield High in East Belfast. Naíscoil na Seolta first opened as a pre-school in 2021, and is planning to admit its first Primary One pupils in September 2025. PICTURE COLM LENAGHAN
Irish language activist Linda Ervine at the former site of Orangefield High in East Belfast. Naíscoil na Seolta first opened as a pre-school in 2021, and is planning to admit its first Primary One pupils in September 2025. PICTURE COLM LENAGHAN
By Conor Coyle

An east Belfast community group claims it has not been consulted over plans to build an Irish language primary school in the area.

Councillors approved a proposed temporary nursery and primary school for Bunscoil na Seolta on Montgomery Road. Eleven councillors voted to support the plans - with five from the DUP opposing.

Irish language campaigner Linda Ervine is one of the driving forces behind the plans, and told the council’s planning committee she had not picked up any “community tensions’ as a result of the application and “received a lot of positivity from people”.

However, the Clonduff Community Association claims it was not consulted.

In a social media post, it said it “takes no definitive position” on plans to build the new Irish language school, and will be holding an information evening for local residents to have a say.

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“Over the past week, there has been a huge reaction from Clonduff residents enquiring about the proposed Irish-language school on Montgomery Road,” the group said.

“At a planning meeting last week, it was claimed by Linda Ervine that there had been substantial engagement with the Clonduff community over a proposed Irish language school and that the community were supportive of the project.

“There has been no engagement whatsoever between our community group and Linda Ervine.”

Two objections were received by the council over the plans, one from a local resident and one from DUP MLA Joanne Bunting. The concerns cite issues around parking and reference a “lack of demonstrated need”.

When contacted by The Irish News, Ms Ervine, who started the Turas project in East Belfast Mission in 2012, said she would engage with community groups directly, rather than speaking through the media.

At last week’s council meeting, Ms Ervine told the Planning Committee the school had received more than 200 expressions of interest from local parents: “We delivered 17,000 leaflets in and around the east Belfast area and we ended up getting over 200 expressions of interest from parents in the local area. And that is for children from the age of birth up to the age of starting.

“At the moment we have 60 applications, to start in September, many from that very local area. We have attended a number of events in east Belfast, the Network Centre in Templemore Avenue, and on the Cregagh Road, and received an awful lot of positivity from people.”