Kingscourt and Breifne College plans progressing

Detailed designs for the multi-million euro extension to Coláiste Dún an Rí in Kingscourt are expected to be completed before the end of this year; while departmental approval is awaited in respect of an extension to Breifne College in Cavan Town.

They are among a dozen capital projects being progressed with a value of almost €200 million as the new school year starts.

Coláiste Dún an Rí is seeking an extension for 23 new classrooms, a two-classroom SEN base, five SET/pastoral rooms, a multimedia room, a DCG room, three Science labs, two Prep areas, a Home Economics room, Art room, Construction Studies room, Engineering room, Tech prep room, three project stores and a new staff room.

The progress update follows the receipt of planning permission from Cavan County Council in mid-July, and the recent update was provided by Karen McBride, Director of Organisation Support and Development, when Cavan Monaghan ETB board members met.

Several significant building expansions are in the pipeline across both counties, including extensions at Virginia College, at Breifne College in Cavan, Inver College in Carrickmacross, Beech Hill College in Monaghan, and Castleblayney College.

Design work has been completed for the Breifne College extension, which is now awaiting a seal of approval from the Department.

The new extension there will house four classrooms, seven SET rooms, three Science labs and four Prep rooms, two new Engineering rooms, two Tech rooms, a Graphics room, Art room, Textiles room, five project stores, a two-classroom SEN base, and other ancillary accommodation.

The new proposed plan will almost double the footprint of part of the school and, once complete, will enable Breifne College to cater for 1,200 students.

Tenders are set to be published for The Beech Hill College project.

Planning permission was also approved for an extension at Castleblayney College to deliver a three-classroom SEN base plus ancillary accommodation.

Elsewhere, works are nearing completion at St Mogue’s College, Bawnboy, to erect a modular unit for the expansion of accommodation at the school, which will be available to students for the new academic year.

The CMETB is also installing modular units at Inver College, Carrickmacross to provide accommodation for nine general classrooms, and this too is on track for completion before the start of September.

For non-ETB schools, works are also progressing in respect of Castleblayney (Gaelscoil Lorgan), Clones (Gaelscoil Eois) and Rockcorry (Scoil Mhuire).

Under Further Education and Training (FET) CMETB are working towards the delivery of a training workshop at Milltown, Monaghan, for the Electrical and OEM apprenticeship programmes.

A spokesperson for CMETB confirmed that the local education organisation is currently managing €193 million in capital projects across Cavan and Monaghan, funded by the Department of Education and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

“CMETB are actively collaborating with all stakeholders to expedite the advancement of all school developments,” said the spokesperson.