Local TD & Councillor Call For New Special School To Be Located In Monasterevin

Monday, 11 December 2023 14:26

They want it to be housed in the former St Paul's school building

Kildare South Fine Gael TD Martin Heydon and Cllr Kevin Duffy have called on the Department of Education to consider the use of the former St Paul's school building in Monasterevin as the location for the new special school to be established in the south of the county.

Last week Minister Josepha Madigan announced 4 new special schools will be built nationwide in Enfield, Wexford, Limerick and an unspecified South Kildare location.

The schools will cater for young people with autism and complex learning needs up to 18 years of age.

Martin Heydon and Kevin Duffy have issued the following release, outlining why they feel Monasterevin would be the ideal location.

“While it is ambitious to have an entire new school established and ready to take 120 pupils by September next year, we believe that using a location such as the former St. Paul's Secondary School in Monasterevin gives the project the best chance of being ready on time.

“The former St Paul's school building was in use as a school up to Summer 2023 and is set up for education provision. It is in a very accessible location in the town centre with access from other parts of South Kildare through both train and motorway connections.

“In their consideration of different locations around South Kildare, the Department of Education are seeking the optimal location for this much needed special school. We are firmly of the view that the former St Pauls building in Monasterevin has the most potential to be turned around in a short time frame into a new school.

“We are working with our Fine Gael colleague Minister with responsibility for special education Josepha Madigan to highlight the benefits of St Pauls as an ideal location for the new school and will continue to advocate for that to ensure the best chance of the school being ready for Kildare students in September 2024."