School extension projects progress across the region

Tens of millions of euros worth of local school building projects are progressing, including a major extension to Coláiste Dun an Rí in Kingscourt where a planning application is due for submission before the end of April.

Twenty-three new classrooms, together with two Special Educational Needs classes, five SET/Pastoral rooms, and other specialist rooms for multi-media, science, construction, design and communication graphics and art, as well as staff and dining room facilities, are to be added in Kingscourt.

Stage 2A was approved for the project back in December last year, with the design team appointed to oversee the project - currently proceeding with detailed design and statutory approvals.

The update was provided to a meeting of ETB board members in Monaghan last week by newly appointed Director of Organisation Support and Development (OSD), Karen McBride. She succeeded Berni Power in the role, who retired in February 2024.

It is one of several good news stories for schools across County Cavan where Virginia College recently received planning permission to add nine classrooms and other specialist classrooms.

At Breifne College in Cavan Town, meanwhile, an extension there was approved by the Department and moved to detailed design stage (2A) in December. A Stage 2B report is expected on that project by early May.

Other building extensions include those at Inver College, which is at Stage 2A, with a brief change to be submitted to the department; and at Beech Hill where the design team report was submitted to department officials in September last year, with approval awaited before moving to the next stage.

Similar to Kingscourt, plans for an extension to Castleblayney College will be submitted to Monaghan council planners before the end of the month.

Modular builds

A number of modular builds at schools in Cavan-Monaghan are also in the pipeline.

With a modular build already complete and erected at Belturbet's St Bricin's College, and works due to be completed by August 2024 at St Mogue's in Bawnboy, the meeting was informed that a contractor has been approved and appointed for a similar project in Virginia. Works there are expected to begin in May, and will fit in with the overall proposed extension works.

A three-class modular build has been completed at Castleblayney, and planning has been granted for a larger nine-room project at Inver College, with off-site works commenced and installation expected to be complete before the new school year begins.

Non ETB schools

There are a number of non ETB schools to which the local education provider is offering its expertise.

A contractor tender report was sent in October last year in respect of a planned extension of Castleblayney's Gaelscoil Lorgan.

A contractor, meanwhile, began work on site at Clones Gaelscoil Eois in June 2023, and another started construction at Rockcorry's Scoil Mhuire in August.

The ETB received an official request from the Department to assist Edenmore Primary School in respect of its plans last October. Meetings have taken place and stakeholders are awaiting instruction from the Department on how best to proceed.

Instructions are also awaited regarding the building of a new PE hall at Cavan Town's Royal School.

A new PE hall was approved to proceed to Stage 2B at Monaghan Collegiate in March, and plans to add three classrooms included two SEN base at Doohamlet NS is still at Stage 1 report.

Leases

Finally, the ETB board members were informed of several leases due for expiry.

These include the two-year ETB agreement on EU House in Monaghan Town, the two-year lease on the Workhouse in Carrickmacross, and a five-year contract for Cootehill Youthreach. All will expire towards the end of this year, and approval was sought by Ms McBride to begin discussions with the respective building owners over possible extensions.