Progress Confirmed On A Number Of Kildare School Extensions

Friday, 3 December 2021 14:00

By Caoimhe Harney

Four schools across the county will see extensions go ahead.

Progress is being made in the design and build programme for a number of key school building projects in Kildare, according to The Department of Education

The four Kildare projects are CPC Kilcullen, Patrician Post Primary School Newbridge, St Marys Girls Post Primary School Naas and St Marks Special School, Newbridge.

Minister Martin Heydon TD for Kildare South commented: “The extensions to the secondary schools in CPC Kilcullen, Patricians Newbridge and St Mary’s Naas will bring each school to a 1,000 pupil school and help to alleviate demand at second level which has been evident for many years now.

"The building project at St Marks Special School will bring it to a 12 classroom school," he said.

According to Minister Heydon the first phase of the process for the procurement of design and build contractors has been completed.

He said the second phase of the procurement process will involve the tendering of the first bundle of projects by these D&B contractors.

It will also involve the establishment of a contractor framework to tender for each subsequent bundle of projects as they become ready e.g. work completed and planning permission etc.

Minister Heydon was adamant that Kildare still needs confirmation of the site for the new 1,000 pupil Curragh post Primary School to be delivered as soon as possible.

He has said he shares the frustrations of many families at the delay in that, but continues to push Minister Norma Foley and her officials for progress.

Martin Heydon joined Eoin Beatty on this afternoon's 'Kildare Focus':