MAYNOOTH 04 February 2003: No new school projects were included in the recent list of approvals for funding provided by the minister for education, Noel Dempsey TD.
Maynooth Post Primary School sought approval for an extension in August 1999 based on their existing and projected enrollment and since then the Government has refused to sanction funding for the project. Planning Permission for 10 additional classrooms and administration rooms was granted by Kildare Co. Council in December, 2001.
The extension is at an early stage of architectural planning and according to the Minister will not be allowed to proceed beyond their current stage for the time being, despite the acceptance by the Minister that the project is necessary based on their criteria for examining such proposals.
"Given the fact that Post Primary Schools at an advanced stage of architectural planning are dependent on Exchequer allocations in 2004 and subsequent years, and the fact that the Maynooth Post Primary Project is at an early stage of architectural planning, then it could be 2005/2006/2007 before Maynooth receives approval to proceed to construction," Deputy Emmet Stagg said in an angry reaction to the publishing of the list.
He said that this 'unacceptable' situation consigns pupils and teachers to years more of studies in prefabs at the school.
