New Enfield Community College will go to tender this year - Foley

The new school for Enfield Community College is due to go to tender later this year, Education Minister Norma Foley has announced.

Enfield Community College opened in 2020 in temporary accommodation which will be at capacity from this September and concerns had been raised about the slow progress on the permanent school building.

This week, Minister Foley announced that the project will be included in the next bundle of schemes to go to tender later this year, news that has been welcomed by Senator Shane Cassells who stated that a “swift turnaround” was now needed on the project.

The project for Enfield will form part of a bundle of schools to be delivered by the Department of Education and the announcement follows a meeting, which Minister Foley held with both Senator Cassells and Minister Damien English in Government Buildings last week to discuss the matter, where Senator Cassells stressed to the Minister that the pupil enrolment figures had now reached a critical level and that the current temporary school provided by the Department was designed to accommodate students for up to three years.

According to Minister Foley the ‘Design and Build’ delivery programme uses a professional external project management team to progress the project through the stages of architectural planning, tendering and construction.

“It is anticipated that the project for the school will be included in the next bundle of projects to proceed to tender later this year,” Minister Foley stated.

“In the interim, my Department will continue to liaise with the school's patron body in relation to the school’s accommodation needs pending delivery of the permanent accommodation.”

The three phases of the temporary school have now been delivered and the school currently has an intake of first and second year students and will reach its full capacity in September of this year.

Representatives of the Parents Association of Enfield Community College have been lobbying local politicians seeking that construction would be prioritised by the Department of Education.

Senator Cassells said he has echoed that point to Minister Foley while welcoming the fact that this will be an investment worth in excess of €15m in the town of Enfield.

“It is good news that we now have clarity on the tender process and what is needed is swift movement so that timelines can be met.

“Enfield is one of the fastest growing towns in Meath and the requirement for a major community college is pressing," he said.

The Department of Education has stressed that they will continue to work closely with the school so that accommodation requirements as the school building project progresses are met.

School principal Shane Foley said: "I am delighted with any progress that is taking place to build the new school. We are now working at full capacity for first and second years and look forward to taking in the next cohort of students in September 2022 which will bring the temporary school to full capacity.

"To date through his office our Chief Executive, Martin O'Brien has ensured that the accommodation needs of the initial intake for Enfield Community College were provided for and the temporary accommodation that was provided is of the highest standard with a full suite of practical rooms and classrooms."