The site of the former medical school in Pietà has been transferred to St Augustine’s College to convert into a primary school after a parliamentary committee yesterday unanimously approved the motion.
We recognise the great importance and contribution given by the Church and private sector to education- Jason Azzopardi
The motion, filed by Land Minister Jason Azzopardi, finally gives the Church school somewhere to build its school for around 150 students.
Earlier this year, the planning authority threw out the school’s plans to extend its current premises in Guardamangia, leaving it with no primary school location.
Dr Azzopardi explained to members of the National Audit Office Accounts Committee, chaired by Foreign Affairs Minister Tonio Borg, that the motion involved three parts of a contract.
“We recognise the great importance and contribution given by the Church and private sector to the education structure,” he said.
The Government will transfer the property formerly used by the medical school in St Luke’s Hospital to the Augustinian community on a 99-year emphyteusis against an annual ground rent of €1,000.
The property covers 2,177 square metres and the Augustinian community committed itself to investing at least €1 million.
Meanwhile, the Augustinian community will hand over the property adjacent to the school, where they originally wanted to build the extension, to the Government in return.
The transfer will be made on a 99-year emphyteusis for €900 a year. The Government would then sub-lease the property back to the Augustinians on condition that it will not be developed.
Labour’s economy spokesman Charles Mangion said the Labour Party agreed with the motion as it resolved the college’s problems.
After the planning authority turned down the extension in February, hundreds of college students, their parents and teachers had walked to Castille protesting against the decision.
The project had been highly criticised by residents concerned about parking space problems and inconvenience created by the school extension.