New school for Gormanston College to proceed to tender
Education Minister Norma Foley this week gave the go-ahead for six school projects to proceed to tender as part of the 'Project Boyne' bundle of schools including Gormanston College in Co Meath.
Planning permission is in place for a new 1,000 student school which will be built on the sports playing pitches on the opposite side of the Gormanston Road on an 8.38 hectares site, and will replace the existing school.
The six large scale projects under 'Project Boyne' are being delivered across schools in counties Carlow, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow by the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) on a devolved basis for the Department.
The Department this week issued authorisation to complete the remaining work on the preparation of tender documents required for public procurement of building contractors for all six schools for the end of the year, in two lots.
These new school buildings will incorporate mechanical ventilation with heat recovery and renewable energy systems that include air source heat pump technologies for heating and solar panels as part of future-proofing the schools from a climate and sustainability perspective.
Minister Foley said: “Today’s decision is a very important milestone for these school communities. I am delighted to confirm that these key flagship projects are being authorised to progress to tender. The delivery of these projects builds on the very good progress we are making in providing new and modernised facilities at schools throughout the country under the rollout of the Government’s National Development Plan.”
The new 37-classroom school for Gormanston College will include a general purpose hall, a multi-use hall, a special needs unit, library, staff rooms and all ancillary accommodation. Other amenities include three grass sports pitches, five hard surface ball courts, outdoor seating and breakout areas, a sensory garden, and a tech yard.
Access will be via a one-way system from Gormanston Road, with a separate entrance and exit. There will be a set down area for buses, 96 car parking spaces and 360 cycle parking spaces.
Meath County Council granted planning for the new school in April 2023 but this decision was appealed to an Bord Pleanala which upheld the granting of permission last August.