17 December 2003: Schools in Naas, Celbridge, Sallins and Rathmore in the Kildare North constituency are to benefit from the 2004 Schools Building programme announced this afternoon by the minister for education and science, Noel Dempsey TD.
They are among 170 projects which were listed today in a spend of €387 million ny the Government. Some €190 million was allocated to new school buildings, extensions and refurbishments in the primary school sector.
The new school in Naas will be on the Sallins Road and has been promised since 1999. Tenders will be invited for a new 16 classroom school and autistic unit in the first quarter of 2004 with construction to commence on site in 2004.
For St Laurences NS in Sallins tenders will now be invited for the provision of 7 new classrooms and ancillary accommodation in the second quarter of 2004 with construction to commence on site in 2004.
Some 250 children in Rathmore who are being taught in substandard accommodation will be pleased to hear that tenders will be invited for the new 8-classroom school in the first quarter of 2004 with construction to commence on site in 2004.
In Scoil na Mainistreach, Celbridge, where planning permission was granted for an extension in April, 2002, tenders will be invited for the provision of 6 new classrooms and ancillary accommodation in the first quarter of 2004 with construction to commence on site this year.
And at Scoil Mochua, Celbridge, tenders will be invited for the provision of 4 classrooms, a general purpose room and ancillary accommodation in the first quarter of 2004 with construction to commence on site in 2004. This will relieve overcrowding in the school and the inappropriate use of prefabs.
The news has been welcomed by local representatives, though reservations have been expressed in relation to those schools who 'lost out' this time around.
Cllr Willie Callaghan said this afternoon that 'Christmas has come early for many families' in Naas, Rathmore, and Sallins, who have been waiting to get their children started in school.
Deputy Emmet Stagg also welcomed the news, which he said came after hard campaigning by Labour representatives. But he noted that schools which have 'again been left out of the programme' include Presentation Convent, Maynooth; Scoil Ui Riada, Kilcock; Scoil Choca Naofa, Kilcock; Tiermohan NS, Donadea; Gaelscoil Ui Fhiach, Maynooth; St Josephs NS, Kilcock; St. Raphael's Special School, Celbridge; and Kill NS.
"Schools which were promised the go-ahead 4 years ago and which should have received funding in previous years have only now got the go-ahead," he said. "As 2004 is an election year, I am fearful that we may actually be dealing with more election promises than with reality."
