Progress on school building projects

THE members of Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB) were briefed on the progress of various construction projects currently ongoing in schools across the region.

Director of Organisation Support and Development, Karen McBride, delivered the update at the first CMETB of the academic year recently.

CMETB is progressing a number of school building extension projects, including developments at Dún an Rí College, Virginia College, Inver College and Breifne College.

Plans for a new L-shaped two and three-storey extension at Breifne College is progressing after overcoming a third-party objection earlier in the year.

When complete, the mixture of two and three-storey extensions to the existing school building will be linked by a first-floor bridge.

The new extension will accommodate four general classrooms, three Science laboratories with prep areas, two Engineering rooms with storage, three Technology rooms, an Art room, a Graphics lab, a Textiles room, a Home Economics room, seven pastoral care rooms, a General-Purpose room, a servery, and two refurbished SEN classrooms. A secure soft play area and sensory garden are also planned to enhance facilities for students with special educational needs.

Ms McBride told the board the major extension at Beech Hill College, Monaghan Town is “running on schedule” and is expected to be completed in the first months of next year.

The new facilities, which are funded by the Department of Education and Youth, will include six general classrooms, four SET rooms, a multimedia room, a construction room with a preparation area, two Science laboratories with prep area, a three-classroom SEN base and a range of ancillary accommodation.

The director informed members the ground floor level, including a bus set-down area, is now complete and “please God, the extension will be finished by Quarter one of 2027.”

Ms McBride also reported that CMETB has received approval to move plans for an extension and refurbishment at Castleblayney College to tender stage.

Castleblayney College on Dublin Road is set to benefit from important improvements under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme.

The project will deliver a new three-class SEN base and existing SEN accommodation will also be re-purposed under the plans.

This means the project has completed its detailed planning and design phase and is ready to invite building contractors to bid for the construction work.

Karen McBride confirmed a tender pack has already been submitted to the Department of Education.

In addition, CMETB is working with the Department of Education to advance plans for the addition of modular accommodation at Monaghan Community Special School.

The Department continues to work on a design proposal for the project, which received approval to proceed to tender/construction in 2026/27 under the National Development Plan for Education and Youth.

CMETB has previously stated that the long-term vision for the county’s first special school “includes exploring opportunities for a new purpose-built school to meet future needs”.

Ms McBride described as “very positive” a visit to Inver College by officials from the Department of Education recently.

The department’s technical team came to Carrickmacross to see for themselves why school staff are calling for urgent repairs and to discuss a proposed extension for the school.

“It was a very positive meeting. The department have committed to repair roof leaks as a priority and compile a report on every issue brought to their attention,” the Director of Organisation Support and Development said.