Press Statement 21 Apr 2020
Another Milestone Reached With New Educate Together Secondary School Building for Castletroy – O’Donnell
- Construction of new school building being fast-tracked as a Rapid 60 Weeks Build by Department of Education
- Planning Permission granted by Limerick City & County Council Welcomed
LIMERICK Fine Gael TD Kieran O’Donnell has welcomed that the new Limerick Educate Together Secondary School building to be located on the Groody road is being fast-track by the Department of Education as a Rapid 60 weeks duration project. With planning permission granted this month for the new school building by Limerick City & County Council, the Department of Education will shortly proceed to tender for a building contractor. Prior to the COVID pandemic, it was hoped that by September 2021, this new school building costing in the range of €19m would open across from Northern Trust to serve the greater Castletroy and adjoining communities.
This newest secondary school will cater for up to 1,000 pupils, boast almost 60 classrooms, a large outdoor learning courtyard, plus a sports hall with a state-of-the-art fitness suite. Currently, the Educate Together school is located in temporary accommodation at the old Salesians Secondary School on the North Circular Road. Deputy O’Donnell has worked closely with the School principal Mr Eoin Shinners and the board of management to get to this stage. With the Department of Education, he organised a school bus service running daily from Castletroy Shopping centre to the old Salesians Secondary school to cater for students until the new school building is built.
“It’s a fantastic news story for the greater Castletroy area and adjoining communities. It’s one I’m very proud of, where we will have up to 1,000 students and it will be in the heart of the community. I was determined that the school opened day one, and we get a new school building on site as quickly as possible in Castletroy. It will be built on a 14-acre site, located on the Groody road, across from Northern Trust. Particularly, I wish to compliment the principal Eoin Shinners, as well as the school board and the parents for the fantastic work they do and I look forward to continuing to work with them on this vital education project.
“All my efforts will now be directed towards getting the new School built and open to students as quickly as possible. The school building is being fast-tracked by the Department of Education as a rapid 60 weeks build. Prior to the COVID pandemic, it was hoped that by September 2021, this new school would open across from Northern Trust to serve the greater Castletroy and adjoining communities. With planning permission now granted by Limerick City & County Council, the Department of Education will proceed shortly to tender for building contractors.
“In terms of traffic management, I have held positive and constructive discussions with Limerick Council to push for the two new links roads, the Groody road with the Golf-links road and Childers road respectively to be progressed and built as quickly as possible to alleviate traffic congestion. Furthermore, I have asked that there has to be a significant investment in public transport, cycle lanes and walkways as part of these new link roads projects.
“I live in the area and have reared my family here. So I understand the importance of the school. This new school building is something that Educate Together and the greater Castletroy area and adjoining communities will benefit greatly from. It will be a school which will be a huge and credible addition to the growing population of the communities here.
END.