Go ahead for Meath school projects

There was relief for parents, staff and students of three Meath schools today when Education Minister, Norma Foley confirmed the rollout and continuation of the Department's school building programme, which included new school buildings for Enfield Community College and O'Carolan College, Nobber as well as the Mercy Primary School in Navan.

Schools across the country had been left in limbo last month with the sudden announcement that the schools building programme was being stalled in relation to 58 projects including O'Carolan College, Nobber, Enfield Community College and Marcy, Navan.

Minister Foley's announcement this morning will facilitate the continued rollout of urgently required school building projects in both mainstream and special education settings, including those that were temporarily paused due to capital funding pressures.

The Department of Education will update each of the 58 schools in relation to the formal arrangements and next steps in respect of the delivery of their individual projects.

Minister Thomas Byrne said he was delighted that the temporary pause has now been lifted. "I worked closely with Government colleagues and senior officials in the Department of Education to ensure extra funding has been allocated for these crucial school projects in Meath, including O’Carolan College in Nobber."

Senator Shane Cassells said it was fantastic that the funding for Enfield Community College and the Mercy in Navan is being delivered to allow these schools progress.

He had raised the matter of Enfield and the Mercy in Navan in the Seanad last month with Minister for Public Expenditure, Paschal Donohoe.

“We have seen a lot of worry and stress caused by the pausing so it is good news to know we can get these schools up and running.

“There was a clear accommodation crisis in Enfield which I put directly to Minister Paschal Donohoe in the Senate chamber.

“These kids had nowhere to go and it was imperative that the project was allowed to proceed.

“In Navan the Mercy Primary school was in dire need of their new building. "They are being housed in 20 year old prefabs that are literally falling to bits.

“This will allow them provide the facilities that are needed for a modern school in the heart of Navan and I’m delighted for principal Ann Murphy and her team.”

Minister Foley said: “The Department of Education is committed to an ambitious Capital programme that delivers new and modernised facilities in school communities and Government is absolutely supportive of continuing this very ambitious and important programme of delivery. This will include provision for all of the 58 schools that were temporarily paused to progress to tender and construction stage and Department officials will contact those schools directly”.

"These projects will provide new and modernised facilities for our school communities and are an important aspect of the Department’s overall delivery under the Government’s National Development Plan. I would like to thank my Cabinet colleague Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Paschal Donohoe who worked tirelessly with me and my Department officials in order to facilitate the delivery of these urgently required school building projects.”