The emergence of a timeline for progress on a new build for Clarin College Athenry is very welcome. The Department of Education envisages that the new secondary school could be delivered for September 2019.
This follows a recent meeting between members of staff of the Rapid Design and Build Section in the Department of Education, GRETB staff and the school Principal held in the Department of Education offices in Tullamore.
At the meeting details of the current plans were outlined. The plans are at an advanced stage and it is hoped to lodge the planning application at the end of December or in early January 2018. Plans for the school were explained in detail and a number of small changes proposed by GRETB are now to be incorporated into the plans.
A timeline was put forward which would see planning application lodged in coming weeks, with the project going to tender in April or May and work to start on site in September 2018, which could mean that, in a best case scenario, the build would be completed in time for September 2019.
The timeline as put forward at this meeting represents real progress on this important piece of educational infrastructure for Galway East. It will result in a top-class facility being built at Newford, Athenry, which is of great importance to the people of Athenry and surrounding areas. The project is also crucial because it will clear the way for the development of the Gaelscoil campus in Athenry.
We have had years of talk about these schools, now is the time to move towards the construction of the new Clarin College at Newford, Athenry to ensure that a new generation of students in the Athenry area get the 21st century facilities that they deserve for their education.’
I will continue to monitor progress with the Department of Education as we cannot tolerate any further slippage on this project.