There was delight at Mullingar’s Lough an Ghair National School yesterday as plans for a new six-classroom school were given the green light by Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe.
The school is one of 43 school building projects nationwide which are to go to tender and construction during 2009.
School manager Fr Declan Smith said the inclusion of Lough an Ghair in the announcement was wonderful news for the school’s pupils and staff.
“There is obvious delight and relief among the staff and school community. After a lot of disappointment it seems work is to start on the new building. We are awaiting written confirmation from the department and then we can take it from there as quickly as possible.”
Fr Smith added that he hoped construction would begin on the new building by the end of 2009. The project was previously tendered in 2007, but no progress made due to budgetary constraints. It is now to be re-tendered in the hope of getting the best value for money in the construction sector.
There was also good news for schools in Athlone and Ballymahon. Planning is to begin for a new 16-classroom school for Coosan National School, Athlone, while Ballymahon Vocational School is to undergo refurbishment for 200 pupils.
