Funding Suddenly Approved As Clane School Faces Fire Safety Closure

Friday, 9 January 2026 17:49

By Martin Osborne - Head Of News

In correspondence seen by Kfm News, the school said the Board of Management’s foremost priority is the safety of pupils and staff.

Emergency funding has been approved to address fire safety issues at a primary school in Clane, clearing the way for urgent works to proceed.

Hewetson National School in Millicent is expected to close from Monday, January 12, after a Fire Safety Officer advised that its existing alarm system was "non-compliant" and posed a risk to life in the event of a fire.

Kfm News reported earlier today how the school had told parents that a contractor was ready to install a new, state-of-the-art fire alarm system, but that work could not begin without approval under the Department of Education’s Emergency Works Grant scheme. That approval has now been granted.

This evening, Kildare North Fianna Fail TD Naoise Ó Cearúil said funding has been secured.

He said it is now hoped that works will be carried out "as soon as possible".

Work on a new alarm system is expected to begin on Monday.

It is understood, however, that the funding application had been with the Department since last November, prompting concerns among parents about disruption to children’s education and the knock-on impact for families facing emergency childcare arrangements.

Social Democrats Kildare North TD Aidan Farrelly also called on the Minister for Education to intervene and fast-track the funding to allow the school to reopen as quickly as possible.

In correspondence seen by Kfm News, the school said the Board of Management’s foremost priority is the safety of pupils and staff.