Funding has been announced for a major extension at St Ciaran’s National School in Baylin.
Announced by the Department of Education late last week, the funding will see two new classrooms and a staff room built for the school, in what is the first phase of the overall development plan for St Ciaran’s.
Minister of State for the Office of Public Works, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran has welcomed the news: “Baylin is a growing area of South Westmeath and the demand for the additional accommodation was apparent for some time,” Minister Moran said. “I was at the school recently with Education Minister Richard Bruton, who saw at first hand the requirements of the school.
“I’m delighted to say that this has been approved and it will now be able to go to contract in the very near future. It is a growing school and numbers are rising all the time, with 179 on the roll at the present time. I understand that next year’s enrolment will be even higher. The news follows upon the recent announcement for playing facilities for the school.
“This is great news for the pupils, teachers, the principal, Mr Pat Canty, and for all the local parents.”
Local Fianna Fáil councillor Frankie Keena said the works are great news for all the management, staff and pupils at the school, while also admitting that more are needed to bring St Ciaran’s up to modern standards in terms of its facilities.
“The second phase consists of building a gym, which nowadays is an important integral part of any school curricular activity. Exercise and sports are so important for the overall development of a child, and a gym would make this possible no matter what the weather. Obviously it would be cheaper to build this gym while the contractor is on site, but funding needs to be sourced,” Cllr Keena commented.
