Progress on school developments

Board members of Cavan Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB) were provided with a broad overview of building developments and investments taking place at schools across the two counties.

The design team appointed to oversee the extension to Coláiste Dún an Rí in Kingscourt, its third since it first opened in 2017, are awaiting comments from the department before progressing plans to double the size of the existing facility.

When Coláiste Dún an Rí was first built five years ago, construction cost €15 million. The new extension, which will consist of more than 40 rooms, is expected to cost at least that to deliver.

Increasing enrolments in the school mean the extension is required. The new accommodation will consist of 23 classrooms, two classroom Special Education Needs (SEN) base, five Special Education Teacher (SET) rooms, one DCG room, three Science labs, two prep areas, one Home Economics room, an Art room, a Construction Studies room, an Engineering room, one Tech Prep room, a project store, staff room, and general purpose/dining room.

Breifne College

Meanwhile, plans to extend Breifne College in Cavan Town have stalled, but board members were told by Buildings Officer Bernie Power that movement was expected on the project in the “next two months”.

The plan there is to add four general classrooms, seven SET rooms, three Science labs/two prep rooms, two Engineering rooms, two tech rooms/two prep rooms, one Graphics room, an Art room, textiles room, five project stores, and two SEN base classrooms.

In the meantime, Breifne is also set to add modular accommodation to provide five general classrooms and three technical rooms.

St Bricin's College

Phase three of the installation of new modular accommodation at Belturbet’s St Bricin’s College is underway, and should be opened in time for the start of the new school term in September.

Board member and Belturbet Cllr Brendan Fay welcomed the investment, saying it bodes well for the 50 additional students set to enrol at the school come the new school year.

He said it was an “extremely positive” for both the school and the town. “If we build it, they will come.”

St Mogue's College

St Mogue’s in Bawnboy was progressing equally well, where the plan is to add four new specialist classrooms by way of modular accommodation on site (Art, Music, Science and Woodwork) plus one SET room.

Fianna Fáil’s PJ O’Hanlon remembered the work put into getting the project approved by the late Sean Smith. “He played an integral role in [St Bricin's] and St Mogue's. I think it’s appropriate we remember him,” he said.

Virginia College

In Virginia a design team has taken on board comments with regards proposals to build nine new general classrooms, two SET rooms, three Science labs, two prep areas, and four SEN base classrooms.

The project is at 'Detailed Design' stage.

Monaghan schools

In neighbouring Monaghan, meanwhile, the extension to Ballybay Community College (two general classrooms and a Science lab complete with prep room) is now complete; and at Beech Hill College progress is being made on issuing tenders for a design team. This is expected in the third quarter of 2023.

The plan for Beech Hill is to add six general classrooms, four SET rooms, one multimedia room, a woodwork and prep area, two Science labs with prep area, and three SEN base classrooms. Beech Hill is also set to benefit from new temporary accommodation providing an additional four general classrooms.

Modular accommodation will also be provided at Castleblayney College (three classrooms, GP Hall, toilets) where plans are underway to deliver a three-classroom extension and SEN Base. The ETB board meeting heard that a new design is being worked on, and it's hoped this will be completed by next month.

An application has been submitted for new temporary modular accommodation at Inver College, and discussions are ongoing with the department regarding available “options”.

Non-ETB schools

Board members finally were updated about projects that the organisation is involved with at non-ETB schools.

These include the provision of a PE Hall and modular accommodation to provide for two SEN base classrooms and four general classrooms at Cavan Town’s Royal School.

Temporary accommodation is being sought for Rockcorry Scoil Mhuire, and at Clones Gaelscoil Eois where there is plans for a major extension. However, board members were told that the project at Gaelscoil Eois has been “held up”, with further updates expected by the end of the month.

Elsewhere the ETB is involved in project delivery at Castleblayney Gaelscoil Lorgan, Edenmore Primary School, Monaghan Collegiate, and Doohamlet NS.