Local Independent TD, Denis Naughten, has been informed by Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O’Sullivan, that the new Cloonakilla National School has been approved to proceed to construction.
It is expected that construction of the new school comprising 16 classrooms, a general purpose hall, staff areas, library, stores, a hard-play area with three courts and a new car-parking/set down area, will commence construction during the school summer holidays.
“While the final date for the start of works on site have yet to be agreed with the school itself, Minister O’Sullivan has confirmed to me that the money is now in place to start the construction during the summer school holidays,” Deputy Naughten said.
“This new school is vital to service the rapidly growing population of the town of Monksland and the wider Bealnamullia area, and will not only be of benefit to the existing pupils but the future generation of local children.
“I want to thank the Board of Management, principal Mary O’Rourke, staff, and parents for their work in bringing this important project to the final stage of approval by the Department of Education.
“It is also important to acknowledge the role of the local county councillors in securing the site which facilitated the construction of the school, and the vital intervention by former Senator John Kelly in moving this project up the priority list when it hit a roadblock.”
