NS project for Rapid Delivery Programme

Significant news for St Paul's National School, Ratoath and the school building project there was welcomed last week local Dail deputy, Mary Wallace, following continued representations that included a meeting in December with Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe. Minister O'Keeffe confirmed to Deputy Wallace that the St Paul's School building project is now being delivered as part of the Department of Education's Rapid Delivery Programme which should ensure the fastest possible construction of the new 24-classroom school project, Ms Wallace said. Projects delivered under the Rapid Delivery Programme are high priority projects and the traditional processes are streamlined and speeded up to ensure minimum delays in getting the projects on site. Deputy Wallace stated: "The plan is to build a new 24-classroom school to replace the existing accommodation and to provide additionality. It is intended that the new school will be tendered as part of a bundle of projects with a view to going on site towards the end of 2010. "As the project is being delivered through the Rapid Delivery Programme, a project manager will be appointed to oversee the project from planning permission stage through to construction and finally handover to the school authorities. It is anticipated that the project will be on site before the end of the year." When the project is ready to apply for planning permission, Department of Education officials will be in contact with the school authorities to appraise them. Department officials and the project manager will oversee and deliver this project. Deputy Wallace continued: "I would like to take this opportunity to thank the chairperson and members of St Paul's board of management and to all the parents who kept in contact with me and who worked with me to support the delivery of this most important school project for the families involved with St Paul's and indeed the wider community. "I would also like to thank Fr Gerry Stuart who at all time provided such excellent backup, facts and figures on the parish numbers. His ongoing support and commitment on behalf of the diocese has been very important. In addition I would like to thank principal, Morag McGowan and all the teachers. I look forward to working with all mentioned to successfully move the project through the Rapid Delivery Programme, " Deputy Wallace concluded.