There was good news for Coosan National School last week as plans for a new 16-classroom school were given the green light by Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe.
The school has been listed by the Department of Education and Science as one of 25 school building projects which are to enter the architectural planning stage during 2009.
There was also good news for schools in Mullingar and Ballymahon. A new six-classroom school is to be built for Lough an Ghair NS, Mullingar, while Ballymahon Vocational School is to undergo refurbishment for 200 pupils.
Nationally, over 19,600 students are to benefit from new schools, extensions, and refurbishments under the announcement.
In all, 43 major school building projects are to go to tender and construction this year, while 25 high-priority major school building projects, including Coosan NS, are to start architectural planning.
Speaking at the announcement, Minister O’Keeffe said; “These projects have been selected to start architectural planning now because they’ll provide a significant number of extra school places in areas where demographic demand is great.
“My officials will shortly be contacting each school about the next steps they should take.”
He pointed out that, this year, a record €656 million will be invested in the school building programme.
“The more competitive environment in the construction sector will allow me to maximise the return I get for the capital resources invested in the school building programme,” he added.
“Our increased spend this year demonstrates the Government’s desire to continue investing in the productive capacity of the economy, to create construction jobs and to provide schoolchildren and teachers with the best educational environment in which to learn and work.”
