Schools boost as massive building plan announced

Dublin People 22 Nov 2015
Tanaiste Joan Burton drops into St Mochta’s, Clonsilla, to celebrate news that the school can go ahead with plans for a new building

A NEW Government building programme announced last week is set to bring new schools and better facilities to several Northside areas over the next five years.

In Dublin West funding has been made available for St Mochta’s in Clonsilla to go ahead with plans for a new building while work at Luttrellstown Community College can move on to the next stage of construction.

Le Chéile in Tyrellstown has been allocated funding for work on its new school and St Patrick’s, Corduff, will be getting entirely new buildings thanks to the plan.

Funding has also been allocated for a new secondary school in the Castleknock and Carpenterstown area and a primary school in Pelletstown/Ashtown.

In Dublin Central around a dozen major school projects are covered under the programme, including new primary schools for Cabra and Drumcondra.

Dubln Central schools set to benefit include: St Laurence O’Toole Girls and Junior Boys on Seville Place; Colaiste Mhuire on Parnell Square; Cabra National School in Dublin 7; Grangegorman Educate Together; North Dublin Muslim School in Dublin 7; Mary Help of Christians School on Navan Road; St John Bosco Junior and Senior Boys; and St Joseph’s School for the Deaf in Dublin 7.

In Dublin North West Gaelscoil Uí Earchain in Finglas as well as Scoil Chaitriona and Scoil Ciaran Special School in Glasnevin are amongst the schools that will benefit from major investment under the five-year plan. The programme was launched at Scoil Bhríde BNS, Blanchardstown, which benefited from over €6 million in funding from the last school building plan.

Speaking at the launch Tánaiste Joan Burton, who is also a local TD for Dublin West, was understandably delighted to bring good news to schools in her constituency.

“I have spoken with Maria Farrell, St Mochta’s principal, and Tony Rock, chair of the Board, to inform them that St Mochta’s is to be totally rebuilt, with the project to proceed to construction in 2016,” she said.

“Parents, pupils and staff at St Mochta’s have had a long campaign to get a new school, and the plans were met with unforeseen delays. Now it should be possible to move rapidly towards construction work. I am also delighted that Luttrellstown Community College can proceed to expand in order to serve such a rapidly growing neighbourhood.

“In addition, construction is getting underway this week at a new school for Le Chéile in Tyrellstown, after a long wait for parents and school management.”

Another local TD, Minister for Health Leo Varadkar, described the announcement of the building programme as “a great day”.

“Future provision is being made for an additional new secondary school for the Castleknock and Carpenterstown area for 1,000 students, and a second primary school for the Pelletstown/Ashtown area,” he said.

“While the demand for these new schools is only emerging, it’s important to plan ahead and allow sites to be identified and plans developed.”

Dublin Central TD, Joe Costello (Lab), said the building programme would vastly benefit pupils and teachers in his constituency.

“Other new primary schools in the pipeline include St Laurence O’Toole Special School on Seville Place and Gaelscoil Bharra in Cabra, which is awaiting tender approval and will begin construction in early 2016,” he said.

“Moreover, Minister Jan O’Sullivan has indicated that a new second-level school is likely to be needed in North West Dublin. There is strong demand in north Dublin for a second-level Educate Together school, and I am in regular contact with Minister O’Sullivan about this issue.”

 

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