Parents to hold school building protest in Lusk

THE Department of Education and Skills says it is fully committed to the delivery of the second phase of a major building project for a North Dublin school.

The Department’s vow came ahead of a planned protest at Lusk Community College this Saturday, January 14.

The Building Completion subcommittee of the Parents’ Association at the school – which opened in 2013 – has organised the protest.

The Parents’ Association said assurances were given that construction of Phase 2 of the school would “potentially commence” by the end of 2016.

“However, we have since learned (through political promotional literature) that the tendering process has not yet even begun and that when it does, it will take between three and six months to complete,” a spokesman for the Parents’ Association said.

“An online petition was launched in early 2016 when the situation was already critical with the 350 capacity of Phase 1 already exceeded. That petition has already been signed by over 1,000 people. 

“In September 2016 a further intake of 143 first years brought the total number of students to 527. “Along with 41 teachers and further ancillary staff there are close to 600 people using a school building with capacity for 350.”

The spokesman said the problem will become even more acute this September when those numbers increase by 150.

“While prefabs have been provided to accommodate the needs of the timetable, this has done nothing to ease the pressure on limited communal space or to provide the sports hall, library and other elements essential to ensure students can experience secondary school life to the fullest,” he argued. 

“Half of the students from the first intake in 2013 will be starting sixth year in September 2017.

“If efforts are not made to accelerate the build of Phase 2 they will graduate in 2018 from an unfinished school, without ever having the benefit of facilities which other students throughout Ireland take for granted. This is completely unacceptable and unfair.”

A spokeswoman for the Department of Education and Skills said Phase 2 of the project will provide for new accommodation to cater for an additional 650 pupils, a Special Needs Unit, a PE Hall with fitness suite and changing facilities and ancillary accommodation including a school library.

“The project was approved to proceed to Stage 3 of Architectural Planning in October 2016,” she said.  

“For this particular project, Stage 3 involves a pre-qualification process followed by a tender competition for appointment of the building contractor. The pre-qualification process is currently ongoing. 

“Expressions of interest have been received and following a period of assessment, a shortlist of building contractors will be produced by the Design Team.”

The spokeswoman said providing no issues arise during the pre-qualification process, it is envisaged that tenders will be invited from the shortlisted companies in February.

“The Department of Education and Skills is fully committed to the delivery of the second phase of the Major Building Project for Lusk Community College,” she added. 

“The Department will also continue to address the accommodation needs of the school throughout the building process.”