Planned Building For Wicklow Schools Goes To Tender Stage.

Green Party TD – Steven Matthews, has confirmed that the planned extension for Coláiste Chraobh Abhann (CCA) will be in the first group of schools (Lot 1) progressed under the Department of Education’s Large Scale building scheme

Green Party TD – Steven Matthews, has confirmed that the planned extension for Coláiste Chraobh Abhann (CCA) will be in the first group of schools (Lot 1) progressed under the Department of Education’s Large Scale building scheme titled - ‘Project Boyne’. It was announced last week that CCA was one of six schools authorised to progress to tender stage under this project. Deputy Matthews’ further update confirms that it will be prioritised to reflect the urgent need to put a long-termsolution in place for secondary school places in Greystones and Kilcoole. Once completed, the extension will allow for a significant increase in capacity – up to 1,000 students.

Discussing the progress, Deputy Matthews said:

“Since last week’s announcement, I have been putting significant pressure on the Department of Education to ensure that Coláiste Chraobh Abhann was prioritised for its extension. I have consistently engaged with the Department on behalf of families to ensure that the issue of school places gets the attention it required. It’s an issue I have raised on countless occasions both in person with the Minister, meeting with Department officials and in the Dáil Chamber. 

“The shortage of school places in Greystones and Kilcoole really came to a head this year but between this announcement and the considerable progress with Greystones Community College, which should see shovels in the ground in the coming weeks, it is hugely welcome to see things going in the right direction. 

“Once the announcement was made last week, some parents contacted me with concerns that CCA would not be included in the first group – Lot 1 but I am glad to be able to confirm that it will receive this priority status. Work will continue at tender stage in the coming months, but I have been assured that all unnecessary delays will be avoided and worked through urgently by the Department.

“I look forward to continuing my work with the Department of Education and school management in both GCC and CCA on progressing the building work. I hope this significant progress will offer comfort to parents with children in 3rd, 4th or 5th class at the moment and it shows the huge level of work ongoing behind the scenes to ensure that the issues faced by families this year in securing a secondary school place are not repeated, concluded Deputy Matthews.