Schools waiting five years for works to start

MAJOR building projects at several Cavan schools have been stuck at the design stage for up to five years.

Since 2020, the Fianna Fáil Minister for Education Norma Foley and her party’s TDs in Cavan-Monaghan have announced with great fanfare funding and planning approval for major extensions to five secondary schools in County Cavan.

The schools in question are: Coláiste Dún an Ri, Kingscourt; Virginia College; St Aidan’s Comprehensive in Cootehill; Bailieborough Community School and Breifne College, Cavan Town.

All five projects are stalled at what is called the Design Stage 2B phase.

Last week, Fianna Fáil Senator Robbie Gallagher and Aontú Senator Sarah O’Reilly raised the issue of St Aidan’s Comprehensive with Minister of State in the Department of Health Jennifer Murnane O’Connor.

Senator O’Reilly said principals do not like to get politically involved or seek support “but sometimes it comes to a point where they feel they have no other option”.

The principal of St Aidan’s contacted her because of a lack of space in their current building and because “four years after it was granted a build project, it is stuck at design stage”.

“This is not just a problem with Cootehill,” Sen O’Reilly said. “The next secondary school is in Cavan Town,” she said, “but because of a lack of school places in Cavan, 32 students are being bused from Cavan Town to Belturbet.

“Bailieborough Community School was approved for an extension in 2020,” the local senator continued. “That school is overflowing and is waiting for five years after being granted an extension and the project is stuck at design stage 2B. Pupils could attend Virginia College but the same situation applies: The school was approved in 2020 but the works have not commenced.

“It’s not like these students can go some place else,” Sarah O’Reilly told the Seanad, “There is actually no place for them to go.

“My question is simple: where are 37 students supposed to go if the Government doesn’t step in before the end of the month?”

Seanad

Robbie Gallagher warned that “unless things improve” between now and September, the doors to St Aidan’s will be closed to 37 students.

He explained how 90 students will leave the school in June, but 135 students have expressed an interest in joining St Aidan’s in September and that number may rise before the closing date for applications on October 31.

“There will be over 700 students next year,” Senator Gallagher said. “Unfortunately, the lack of accommodation is affecting the school’s ability to provide educational attainment to children who attend in a safe manner.”

Timeline of delays

In September 2020, Fianna Fáil TD Niamh Smyth received confirmation from Minister Foley of a €2M investment in Bailieborough Community School.

The funding was to pay for four new general classrooms, one multi-media room and one science lab.

Then in August 2020, Deputy Smyth welcomed the investment by the government for “much-needed” new facilities at Virginia College.

Included in the project is the provision of nine additional classrooms, three new science labs, two SET rooms, two prep areas, and two classroom SEN bases.

In June 2021, Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith and Councillor Clifford Kelly (FF) “welcomed” Norma Foley’s decision to approve works on the major building project at Cólaiste Dún an Rí in Kingscourt.

At the time, Deputy Smith said: “The proposed extension is needed due to increasing enrolments in the school.”

The work is to include the construction of 23 classrooms, two classroom SEN base, five special education teaching rooms, a design and communications graphics room, three science labs, a home economics room, an art room, a construction studies classroom, an engineering room, dining room and staff room.

Then in November 2021, the Department of Education approved an “all-in” grant for additional accommodation at Breifne College, Cavan for four general classrooms, two materials technology rooms, two engineering rooms, an art room, home economics room, three science labs, a graphics room, textiles room, seven special education teaching rooms, two special educational needs rooms a GP/ dining room.

In April 2023, Norma Foley again announced the provision of two mainstream classrooms for St Aidan’s Comprehensive in Cootehill.

At the time, Deputy Brendan Smith welcomed the decision and said he would “continue to support the school community in their ongoing work to have additional facilities provided to St Aidan’s”.

Response

When the Celt asked the Department of Education why works on the projects approved in 2020 /2021 have not begun, a spokesperson said the delivery of a school building project involves five core stages including stage 2B, which is securing planning permission before it can move on to procuring a contractor, awarding a contract, followed by construction.

“While the projects were announced across 2020 and 2021, the schools did not receive approval to proceed to statutory planning until 2023 and 2024, following successful completion of stages 1 and 2a.

“The projects are currently at Stage 2b (detailed design). The process is sequential, and each stage must be completed before moving to the next.”

Meanwhile, Senator O’Reilly said: “It’s been announcement after announcement from the Government but then, five years later, nothing has improved for principals, pupils or teachers.

“The Department must have no money,” the Cavan-Monaghan rep opined. “But, it is in the Programme for Government that the State delivers school infrastructure. In the meantime, it’s not fair on teachers who are absolutely wrecking their heads trying to improve things for their students.”

ETB progress on projects

Of the five schools awaiting construction works, three come under Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB).

When The Anglo-Celt asked for an update on the work planned, CMETB said the design team is currently progressing with detailed design for Virginia College and a decision is due on a planning application submitted for Breifne College last October by December 14.

A detailed design report has been submitted to the Department of Education with regard to Dun an Rí College, Kingscourt and “we are waiting approval to proceed to contractor tender stage,” a CMETB spokesperson said.

“There are no start/completion dates for construction on theses projects at present,” a statement from CMETB continued.

“Each project must go through design and tender stages with department approval to proceed at each stage before construction can commence.”