'It's all systems go now'... School communities’ relief as stalled school building projects cleared to proceed

There was relief for parents, staff and students of three Meath schools last week when Education Minister, Norma Foley confirmed the rollout and continuation of the Department's school building programme, which included new school buildings for Enfield Community College and O'Carolan College, Nobber as well as the Mercy Primary School in Navan.

Schools across the country had been left in limbo last month with the sudden announcement that the schools building programme was being stalled in relation to 58 projects including O'Carolan College, Nobber, Enfield Community College and Mercy, Navan.

More money is being released by the Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to allow them to go ahead.

Spiraling building inflation was a major factor in the recent announcement that projects were being put on hold while negotiations on increased funding continued.

"It is great news," said Shane Foley, principal of Enfield Community College. "It is all systems go now. It has to go to tender and I imagine building work should start within the year, probably February."

Mr Foley said that the school had accommodation for the next two years if they get an additional classrooms on their temporary site, which is adjacent to the permanent school site.

"It is great news for the people of Enfield. One of the reasons it is back on track is that the numbers stack up and enrolment is so strong, which has a positive knock on effect.

The chair of the Board of Management of O'Carolan College, Nobber, Cllr Paul McCabe said it was great news. They had official confirmation from the Department and everything was back on track.

Minister Foley's announcement will facilitate the continued rollout of urgently required school building projects in both mainstream and special education settings, including those that were temporarily paused due to capital funding pressures.

The Department of Education will update each of the 58 schools in relation to the formal arrangements and next steps in respect of the delivery of their individual projects.

Minister Thomas Byrne said he was delighted that the temporary pause has now been lifted. "I worked closely with Government colleagues and senior officials in the Department of Education to ensure extra funding has been allocated for these crucial school projects in Meath, including O’Carolan College in Nobber."

Senator Shane Cassells said it was fantastic that the funding for Enfield Community College and the Mercy in Navan is being delivered to allow these schools progress.

He had raised the matter of Enfield and the Mercy in Navan in the Seanad last month with Minister for Public Expenditure, Paschal Donohoe.

“We have seen a lot of worry and stress caused by the pausing so it is good news to know we can get these schools up and running.

“There was a clear accommodation crisis in Enfield which I put directly to Minister Paschal Donohoe in the Senate chamber.

“These kids had nowhere to go and it was imperative that the project was allowed to proceed.

“In Navan the Mercy Primary school was in dire need of their new building. "They are being housed in 20 year old prefabs that are literally falling to bits.

“This will allow them provide the facilities that are needed for a modern school in the heart of Navan and I’m delighted for principal Ann Murphy and her team.”

Minister Foley said: “The Department of Education is committed to an ambitious Capital programme that delivers new and modernised facilities in school communities and Government is absolutely supportive of continuing this very ambitious and important programme of delivery. This will include provision for all of the 58 schools that were temporarily paused to progress to tender and construction stage and Department officials will contact those schools directly”.

"These projects will provide new and modernised facilities for our school communities and are an important aspect of the Department’s overall delivery under the Government’s National Development Plan."