8th March, 2024
At a public meeting held in Lawlor’s Hotel, Naas, on 7th March, all four Kildare North TDs and Senator Vincent Martin were called upon to do everything possible, including meeting the Minister for Education Norma Foley, to expedite the recommencement of interior works on the substantially complete but vacant Mercy Convent national school building.
The meeting, which was organised by the Mercy Convent Parents Association and chaired by Green Party Councillor Bob Quinn, was attended by 150 parents and concerned parties.
Attendees heard how the new school, which is at an advanced stage of construction and is weatherproof, has remained untouched since March 2022 due to the failure of the Department of Education to appoint a contractor to complete works following a dispute with the original construction firm. Based on the Department's current timeframe, the school will not be operational until early 2026.
They also heard that a private security firm is guarding the new school at a cost of approximately €350,000 per year.
The principal of the school, Mr Cathal Ruane, outlined the timeline of the project. The new 32-room school was given the green light in March 2017. Construction commenced in May of that year. In January 2018, school operations transferred to a temporary building made up of pre-fabricated units. Mr Ruane expected that building to be in use for 18 months to two years. Six years later, the temporary school is still in use. Repairs are now required on the building for the second time, he explained, because it was never designed or intended to be in use for so long. He explained how hard it was for staff, children and parents to walk past a beautiful new school every day, but not be able to use it.
Ms Anne O’Flaherty, a teacher at the school, described the conditions in the temporary school as inadequate for staff and pupils. It is believed that the temporary building is being leased from the building contractor at a cost running to millions of euro per annum.
Deputy James Lawless told the meeting that he had raised the issue in the Dáil on 13th February 2024. Deputy Bernard Durkan had asked a parliamentary question in January 2021, the reply to which stated that project is in the process of a retender for a contractor to complete the new building. Senator Martin raised the matter in the Seanad in January this year. It is understood that the contractor has been approved but the letter of intent has not been issued.
All the speakers expressed frustration with the impasse, and agreed that no satisfactory explanation had been provided by the Department.
The meeting ended with the Oireachtas members giving a commitment to work together to have a new contractor appointed and works commenced on finishing the school as a matter of urgency.
The politicians present were the North Kildare TDs Reada Cronin (Sinn Fein), Bernard Durkan (Fine Gael), James Lawless (Fianna Fáil), Catherine Murphy (Social Democrats) were in attendance along with Green Party Senator Vincent P Martin. Naas Municipal District Councillors Bob Quinn (who chaired the meeting), Anne Breen, Fintan Brett, Evie Sammon, Seamie Moore and Bill Clear were in attendance.
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