An artist's impression of the Virginia College development.

Plans for Virginia College extension lodged

A number of school projects under the auspices of the Cavan Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB) are advancing.

Plans for a major new extension at Virginia College were lodged with the Department of Education earlier this month.

The planned large-scale extension will include nine new classrooms, four special education rooms, three science labs and two prep rooms.

In an update to CMETB board members at a meeting in Cootehill last week, Berni Power, director of operational services and developments, said that the plans had been submitted to the department, officials at which she said she will continue to push to ensure the project enters the next stage of development as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, plans for Colaiste Dún an Rí have also been finalised and sent to the Department of Education for approval. That project will see a doubling of capacity at the school, which only opened its doors six years ago.

Breifne College also received good news this month as a “change of request” for plans there has been approved by the Department.

Four general classrooms, seven SET rooms, a two classroom SEN base, three science labs and two prep rooms, two engineering rooms, two tech rooms and two prep rooms, a graphics room, art room, textiles room, five project stores and ancillary office space are planned for the congested site on the Cootehill Road.

In the meantime, planned modular accommodation for the Cavan based school is currently underway and completion is expected in January 2023.