Holy Family gets funding for new school at last

The Department for Eduction and Skills is to announce later today, that the Holy Family School in Cootehill has been given full approval for funding under the school building programme 2016 – 2021.

The long-awaited news, almost 30-years coming, will be delivered by Minister Jan O'Sullivan at noon today, Tuesday, November 17, after proposals to alter previous plans and increase capacity to a 25-room school were approved by the Department.

Cavan-Monaghan Fine Gael TD Sean Conlan expressed his delight at the latest development, and at the Department's commitment to support the school which provides learning to 150 students students across the region with learning disabilities and Autism.

“It is important in a democracy that we look after the most vulnerable in our society and I am pleased that that the Holy Family School has now been given full approval. The Holy Family School waited almost 15 years under the previous Fianna Fáil administration for a new school and it has now become a reality under this Fine Gael and labour government,” Deputy Conlan said.

Party colleague, Deputy Joe O'Reilly also welcomed the news, saying: “The Holy Family School project is a particularly special project, which I am delighted to see it has received funding to proceed with construction.”

The need to develop facilities for the pupils at the Holy Family School, was also raised at a recent meeting of Cavan County Council, where a motion by Sinn Féin's Paddy McDonald proposed that the local authority write to the Minister seeking assurances on funding.

His motion was supported in chamber by Fine Gael's Carmel Brady, and Fianna Fail's Niamh Smyth, Fergal Curtin and John Paul Feeley.

The new Holy Family is but one of four school building projects locally, with a new premises at St Clare's National School also granted funding and due to go to construction next year, Kingscourt Post Primary, and funding also for Cavan ETB Post Primary, set for construction in 2019-2021.

I was very pleased to learn that the following projects have received funding under the 2016/2021 School Buildings Programme. Out of 310 projects nationally, I am delighted to see that four projects have been granted funding in Cavan,” Deputy O'Reilly said.