Published: 06 February 2009

06 February, 2009 - Minister O'Keeffe announces go-ahead for new 16-classroom school in Passage West

[Source: Dept of Education and Science]

Building work will begin this year on a new 16-classroom school for Star of the Sea National School in Passage West, according to the Minister for Education and Science, Batt O'Keeffe TD, who announced the move today.

Speaking at the school, Minister O'Keeffe said: 'Today, I'm announcing a new 16-classroom generic repeat design building for Star of the Sea National School.

'The school will be built on a greenfield site provided by my Department.

'The project will proceed to site later this year following satisfactory completion by the design team of the second stage of the architectural planning process.

'This stage involves finalising the detailed design and the preparation of tender documents.

'My Department will shortly be in contact with the design team about taking the next steps in the process,' said Minister O'Keeffe.

Apart from 16 general classrooms, the new state-of-the-art school will have a general purpose room; PE equipment store; library and resource area; multi-purpose room; special education tuition rooms; general office; teacher and staff room; and a principal's office.

'I want to pay particular tribute to the efforts of my Dáil colleagues, TDs Minister Micheál Martin and Michael McGrath, whose commitment to the new school project has been steadfast.

'This year, I will spend over €600 million on the school building programme across the country - a level of capital investment that reflects this Government's commitment to continuing the programme of sustained investment in primary and post-primary schools.

'It demonstrates our desire to continue investing in the productive capacity of the economy, to create jobs in the construction sector and to provide schoolchildren and teachers with the best educational environment in which to learn and work,' said Minister O'Keeffe.

ENDS