John Kearney, chief executive, Cavan Monaghan Education and Training Board.

Delivery of €68M in school projects progressing

Updates on the delivery of multiple school building projects, comprising an investment of €68M in educational facilities across counties Cavan and Monaghan, were given at a virtual meeting of the Cavan Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB) by the Chief Executive John Kearney last week.

Among them, design for a major project at Virginia College is nearing completion and will be forwarded to the Department for approval within days. Investment there will see the delivery of nine classrooms, a Special Education Needs (SEN) unit, three science labs and four SEN classrooms.

Outlining the details of the land and buildings report, Mr Kearney said, in relation to Ballybay Community College, the letter of intent has been issued to a contractor.

He also revealed that there is significant investment going into Beech Hill College in Monaghan Town. That project comprises six general classrooms, a special needs unit, a multi-media room, a woodwork facility and two science labs. The draft design report for stage one has been compiled and is due to be submitted to the Department by the end of May.

The education chief outlined further significant developments at Castleblayney College in relation to a SEN unit. Allied to that will be the refurbishment of a science lab and a new universal toilet. “All of these projects have been subsumed into one project and a design team have been appointed,” outlined Mr Kearney.

New principal at St Bricin's

Members also heard that a new principal had been appointed to St Bricin’s College in Belturbet. David McCague was the director of the Monaghan Education Centre and will take up his new position within the next month.

Local councillor Brendan Fay wished Mr McCague well in his new role.

Mr Kearney said a tender had been successfully appointed in respect of work at St Bricin’s and a letter of intent has issued. “The contractor aims to make a very speedy conclusion to that work, once the examinations are concluded in the school,” he said.

Cavan Institute campus

Mr Kearney said Covid restrictions had not impacted school construction projects as they were allowed continue as normal under essential projects.

However, this was not the case in relation to Further Education and Training (FET) developments.

“Unfortunately in the FET landscape, there was a complete embargo on all construction projects. We have earmarked the development of a modular accommodation for Cavan Institute in advance of the extension being delivered in the FET campus,” outlined Mr Kearney.

The CMETB is now looking for Department approval to extend a lease on St Clare’s in Main Street in Cavan Town.

“We have availing of a long-term lease at St Clare’s in Main Street in Cavan Town for the past 35 years. We were looking to extend that for a couple of months to facilitate us in terms of the concluding stages of the modular solution, where we can accommodate 400 students, moving into the FET Campus early in the first academic term,” explained Mr Kearney.

Royal School Sports Hall

The CMETB is also involved in the delivery of a number of projects for schools not under its remit.

The Department of Education has asked the Education and Training Board to deliver the new sports complex at the Royal School in Cavan Town and also at the Collegiate in Monaghan Town.

“The tenders are being evaluated as we speak for both the Royal School and Monaghan Collegiate,” Mr Kearney updated board members.

Fine Gael’s Madeleine Argue welcomed the CMETB’s involvement and expertise in the delivery of these projects.

Other projects

The design team for Gaelscoil Lurgan in Castleblayney has been appointed. “We are very much looking forward to progressing that project as quickly as possible,” said Mr Kearney.

The major investment in school projects across both counties was welcomed by Aidan Campbell. “It is a serious amount of money to be managing and all the different projects that are going on – I compliment John Kearney and all his team,” he said.

Cllr Brendan Fay also joined in the congratulations.