'A breakdown in trust' - St Eunan’s seek answers after exclusion from priority list

St Eunan’s College in Letterkenny has criticised being overlooked in the National Development Plan rollout for 2026 and 2027, labelling it “an organisational disgrace" and a "breakdown in trust."

The school, which describes itself as “a high-performing, vital part of the Irish education system”, has called on public representatives to provide “clarity, accountability, and a timeline that is respected.”

Following the July 2025 National Development Plan (NDP) Review, the Irish government committed €102.4 billion for the 2026–2030 period. The rollout for 2026 and 2027 focuses on transitioning large-scale projects from planning into construction across several key sectors.

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A €1.6 billion investment tranche in the education sector is “to progress 105 school building projects to tender or construction during 2026 and 2027. These projects aim to deliver 27,000 additional and modernised school places, with a strong focus on Special Education Needs.

However, St Eunan’s College was again unsuccessful in the country-wide announcement, which left only one school successful in Donegal - St Columba’s in Stranorlar.

St Eunan's College, which has 1,000 students, has faced significant issues with overcrowding, with students and staff having to use portacabins for classrooms due to a lack of adequate permanent facilities. The college, which was built in 1906, has not received major improvement works since the 1970s

“For over 120 years, Saint Eunan’s College has been a cornerstone of education in Donegal,” St Eunan’s College stated. “Today, we accommodate 1,000 young men, providing a level of academic and extracurricular excellence that rivals any institution in the country. We do this by following every Departmental directive, embracing every new curriculum, maintaining the highest standards and motivating students to reach their highest potential.

“We have upheld our side. We provide the results, the student care, and the future workforce for this region. However, the state’s reciprocal commitment - the basic provision of a fit-for-purpose environment - has been absent for 30 years.

“The news that St Eunan’s has once again been excluded from the Department’s priority list for the next two years is more than a disappointment; it is a breakdown in trust. The need has not diminished nor demographics changed - we are catering for Letterkenny and a wide surrounding area with continued pressure of an increasing enrolment.”

In the last 30 years, Rev Fr Michael Carney from 1996 to 2009 and Christopher Darby till 2019, were presidents. In 2019, the structure transitioned to a lay Principal, with Damien McCroary taking over leadership.

“Since 1997, through the tenure of three different principals, we have campaigned for an extension/refurbishment,” the statement continued. “For decades, we were led to believe that the funding was secure and that progress was imminent. Yet, we are met with a wall of silence. Our frustration today is not just with the lack of bricks and mortar; it is with the lack of simple, honest communication.

“The inability of the Department to provide answers or a clear roadmap is an affront to our staff, our students, their families and our community. To ignore a school of this scale is not just an administrative oversight; it is an organisational disgrace.

“It is a testament to the spirit of this school that we continue to thrive. We produce engineers, doctors, tradespeople, and leaders in facilities that have long outlived their intended lifespan. Our staff work around these limitations every day, refusing to let the physical environment dictate the quality of a student's education.

“But ‘making do’ should not be a permanent strategy. The Department has, for too long, relied on our resilience as a reason to delay its responsibility. They have seen our ability to succeed in spite of our surroundings as a sign that we can wait. We can no longer accept that logic.

“This issue extends far beyond the walls of our classrooms. It affects the heartbeat of Letterkenny and the wider Donegal region. To our Parents and Students: You deserve better than ‘temporary’ solutions that have lasted for generations. To our Alumni and Local Businesses:

“Our school is an engine for this town’s economy and culture. When the school is neglected, the community’s future potential is throttled. To our Representatives: We require more than acknowledgements of the problem. We require clarity, accountability, and a timeline that is respected.

“Saint Eunan’s College will no longer be content to wait in the wings. We are a high-performing, vital part of the Irish education system, and we deserve to be treated as such.

“The time for polite enquiry has passed. We are now seeking a fundamental change in how the Department communicates with this community. We are asking for the transparency that any modern organisation should provide, and we are calling on everyone who has ever walked these halls to stand with us in demanding a future that matches the ambition of our students.

“We need you, our community, to support us in our campaign. Please make contact with your local and national representatives. We have one question for our political representatives: Why?”.