Clare Fine Gael Senator Tony Mulcahy has likened the Government’s funding announcement for seven Clare primary and post-primary schools to ‘a shot in the arm’ for the communities involved.
In its 1.5 billion euro five-year school building programme for 2012-2016, the Government has allocated funding toward the provision of three new schools and extensions to four other schools.
New school buildings have been earmarked for Ennis National School (2012), Ennis Educate Together School (2014/15) and St. Joseph’s Secondary School in Tulla (2015/16). Funding also has been allocated for extensions at Knockanean National School, Shannon Comprehensive, Ennis Community College and St. Anne’s Community College in Killaloe. The projects are scheduled to go to construction in 2014/15.
Senator Mulcahy paid tribute to the long-standing efforts by the Boards of Management and parents of children attending the schools in receipt of funding.
“For some time there has been a clear need for the provision of more school places in Ennis, Killaloe, Shannon and Tulla due to a significant increase in the local population of these towns. This increase has inevitably put pressure on class sizes. The provision of new accommodation will be of great benefit to the schools concerned. Indeed, the funding announcement is like a shot in the arm to the local communities at a time when capital investment in our education system is limited”, he stated.
The Shannon-based Senator said the funding announcement was especially welcome considering it followed less than a fortnight after eight Clare primary schools were offered grants to build permanent accommodation this year.
Senator Mulcahy said approximately a third of Clare schools currently renting prefabs have been included in the 2012 allocation. “The recent approval of grant aid, under an initiative aimed at replacing rented prefabs, in schools is very positive news for the Clare schools concerned as some had believed that the current economic downturn would have led to a subsequent decrease in Government spending in this area”, he explained.
Senator Mulcahy acknowledged that other local schools were awaiting approval for projects at various stages. “I will continue to urge Minister Ruairi Quinn to ensure these projects are processed as quickly as possible”, he concluded.
In its 1.5 billion euro five-year school building programme for 2012-2016, the Government has allocated funding toward the provision of three new schools and extensions to four other schools.
New school buildings have been earmarked for Ennis National School (2012), Ennis Educate Together School (2014/15) and St. Joseph’s Secondary School in Tulla (2015/16). Funding also has been allocated for extensions at Knockanean National School, Shannon Comprehensive, Ennis Community College and St. Anne’s Community College in Killaloe. The projects are scheduled to go to construction in 2014/15.
Senator Mulcahy paid tribute to the long-standing efforts by the Boards of Management and parents of children attending the schools in receipt of funding.
“For some time there has been a clear need for the provision of more school places in Ennis, Killaloe, Shannon and Tulla due to a significant increase in the local population of these towns. This increase has inevitably put pressure on class sizes. The provision of new accommodation will be of great benefit to the schools concerned. Indeed, the funding announcement is like a shot in the arm to the local communities at a time when capital investment in our education system is limited”, he stated.
The Shannon-based Senator said the funding announcement was especially welcome considering it followed less than a fortnight after eight Clare primary schools were offered grants to build permanent accommodation this year.
Senator Mulcahy said approximately a third of Clare schools currently renting prefabs have been included in the 2012 allocation. “The recent approval of grant aid, under an initiative aimed at replacing rented prefabs, in schools is very positive news for the Clare schools concerned as some had believed that the current economic downturn would have led to a subsequent decrease in Government spending in this area”, he explained.
Senator Mulcahy acknowledged that other local schools were awaiting approval for projects at various stages. “I will continue to urge Minister Ruairi Quinn to ensure these projects are processed as quickly as possible”, he concluded.
