Dublin Bay North TDs from both the government and opposition have welcomed progress in the long-running Gaelcholáiste Reachrann saga.
Last week, it was announced that the Donaghmede school, which has seen both government and opposition TDs apply pressure to improve conditions at the school, received approval to move to tender for a new school building.
Minister for Education Helen McEntee (since promoted to Minister for Foreign Affairs since this article appeared in print) told the Dáil that the school has received the sign-off to begin the tender process, and said, “it is my intention to get builders on site as soon as possible.”
The Fine Gael Minister said that the tender process “will give us the opportunity to make sure next year we have builders on site breaking ground and making sure we can provide a new state-of-the-art, 600-pupil school for that community and the wider area.”
The week before last year’s general election, staff and students staged a walkout over the poor conditions at the school, which is notably the only medium-sized Gaelscoil in the area.
Among those in attendance was then-Fianna Fáil councillor, now TD Tom Brabazon, who has children in attendance at the school.
Brabazon said, “as a parent of children attending Gaelcholáiste Reachrann and as a public representative, I have long pushed for this project to be delivered. I want to congratulate the school community, staff, parents and students for their perseverance and advocacy.”
“I am delighted that efforts to hold the Department of Education accountable have finally borne fruit. The new school building will provide a modern, fit-for-purpose environment where students can learn and grow through the Irish language, and staff can teach with the resources and space they deserve.”
The Fianna Fáil TD said “there is still work to do and I will continue to work side by side with the committee and parents to ensure that the Department of Education deliver this much-needed project in as timely a manner as possible and that their promises are fulfilled.
The five Dublin Bay North TDs – Brabazon, Barry Heneghan, Densie Mitchell, Cian O’Callaghan and Naoise Ó Muirí – have worked across party lines since the government was formed in January in a bid to secure a new, suitable facility for the school, which is largely prefab-based.
In October, the five TDs called on the government to resolve the issue, discussing the need for a new school in the Dáil, and the pressure has paid off.
In October, Brabazon memorably said, as Gaeilge, that the Department of Education “needed a kick up the backside” to resolve the issue.
Ó Muirí, who quizzed party colleague McEntee on the issue in the Dáil on Wednesday, said “Gaelcholáiste Reachrann has proudly served families in our community for more than two decades, and there has been huge anticipation for real progress on this project.”
“I was delighted to hear Minister McEntee confirm to me in the Dáil on Wednesday that Gaelcholáiste Reachrann has proceeded to tender,” the Fine Gael TD said.
“After nearly a quarter of a century waiting for a much-needed new school building, this announcement will come as a great relief to families and staff who have worked tirelessly to make it a reality.”
“The new, state-of-the-art building will cater for 600 pupils in our community, and is the culmination of years of hard work and dedication by the Gaelcholáiste Reachrann school community.
Ó Muirí said, “this is a major milestone for Irish-medium education in north Dublin, and I look forward to seeing builders on site breaking ground next year”
O’Callaghan said, “over the last 24 years, students, staff, and parents have campaigned long and hard for a permanent school building for Gaelcholáiste Reachrann, and this announcement is a very positive step in the right direction.”
“The focus now must be on ensuring that the tender is awarded, and that builders are on site to begin construction by Q2 of 2026, as promised by the Minister back in May of this year,” he stated.
“I will continue to work alongside the entire Gaelcholáiste Reachrann community to ensure that permanent school facilities finally get delivered after all these years,” the Social Democrats TD said.
Sinn Féin TD Denise Mitchell said, “parents, students and staff have been campaigning for years to ensure no more children and teachers are stuck conducting classes in substandard conditions in prefabs.”
“The announcement by the Minister is a huge step towards realising the demand for a new, permanent school building. There have been many previous delays and false dawns, so the key thing now is that the tender process is completed and we finally see workers on site in the new year.”
Mitchell said, “Gaelcholáiste Reachrann is a school that has enormous achievements both academically and in sporting, cultural and other extra-curricular pursuits. These students deserve a permanent school.”
Independent TD Barry Heneghan said, “for too long, the school was waiting for this new building.”
Heneghan said, “this incredible progress only happened because so many people came together. Huge thanks to all local TDs, councillors, Conradh na Gaeilge, Gaeloideachas, Gael Linn, all parents and particularly Michelle McGoldrick students, teachers from Reachrann and local bunscoileanna.”
He said that the approval to proceed to tender is “the clearest sign yet that the permanent school is finally on the way.”
The independent TD “I have consistently made clear that these students and parents deserve these improvements; this has been a priority for me supporting the government. The move to tender is a long-overdue breakthrough and a credit to the determination of the school community.”
“Tender approval is a major step, but we now need to see a smooth and timely transition to the construction phase. I will continue to keep pressure on until the new building is open and serving the community.”
The school was put on the Department of Education’s list for architectural planning, and a full design team was appointed back in 2007, with no improvements made in the 17-year gap (or the six Taoiseachs’ tenure ) since.
Prefabs have become a prominent feature of the Irish education system, and have become a way of papering over the cracks for underresourced schools.
Prefabs are designed for temporary use and are notorious for not being able to retain heat, forcing students and teachers to wear coats in class for most of the school year.
Now, staff and students alike at the school are hoping that the new school building is one step closer to fruition.