Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State for staying to this late hour to take this question about Coláiste Bhríde in Carnew, Wicklow. This is a progressive secondary school of almost 1,000 pupils which serves a predominantly rural area in south Wicklow as well as parts of north Wexford and south Carlow. The local community rightly takes great pride in this school. The whole school evaluation reports regularly speak of the positive relationships between teachers and students and that it is an inclusive and caring community. In addition to having a reputation for academic excellence, it also supports extra-curricular activities, even to the point that students involved in the Young Social Innovators led a successful campaign recently to amend, change and ensure there was junior certificate grade reform. That reform was indeed announced by the Minister, Deputy Helen McEntee, and there will now be a broader range of grades for those at junior certificate level.

While the school is very successful in what it delivers for students and the communities, the school’s buildings have not been fit for purpose for quite some time. There has been a long campaign to try to ensure that this community has adequate school facilities. In that regard, tribute must be paid to the principal of the school, Anna Gahan, the staff team, to John Naylor and the board of management and to the parents and students who have been waiting a long time. We finally saw a commitment that we would see a new school for Carnew as part of the Project Ireland bundle, which dealt with a number of schools in the region. This involves the refurbishment of the 1930s school building and the construction of a new two-to-four storey building with SEN units. It will be a state-of-the-art facility that will be critical for the community.

Preliminary planning was granted by Wicklow County Council in December 2023. From replies to parliamentary questions I have asked, we have been told that this has been at stage 2b for a while. The Minister of State will be aware that is where the final designs progress before the tender documents are issued. It is critical we get to the stage where the tender documents are issued, a contractor is appointed and work can begin. My critical question is: when will stage 2b be completed? When will a tender for a contractor be awarded?

The school has also sought as part of the development that there would be groundworks for a multipurpose pitch and that this would be facilitated. That did not come in right at the beginning but the Minister of State will appreciate that with a school of almost 1,000 students, which is likely to grow because of the expanding population in north Wexford and south Wicklow, that we need to have sports and recreational facilities within a school. At the moment, any of the teams that want to play a game or train, whether soccer or anything else, has to hire a bus to get to the nearest pitch. That is not acceptable for a modern and inclusive school community.

I am conscious it is coming close to midnight. Carnew in south Wicklow has often felt as if it is the Cinderella in Wicklow. I am hoping that tonight on this last question the Minister of State will be Carnew’s Prince Charming and be able to announce some good news for us this evening and give us a potential timeframe for delivery.

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