5 local schools in latest round of schools build programme

(Above) Minister of State Robert Troy.

Five local schools have been included in the latest round of the Department of Education's Devolved Schools Building Programme.

St Finians College, Mullingar; St Mary’s Special School, Mullingar; Castlepollard Community College; Moate Community School, and St Joseph’s Secondary School, Rochefortbridge are among 20 schools across Ireland included in the programme

Speaking today, Minister of State with Responsibility for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Robert Troy TD, welcomed the news that five Westmeath schools had been included in the programme.

“I am thrilled that five Westmeath schools are receiving much needed investment for the benefit of students, teachers, families and their communities at large. Under the Devolved Schools Building Programme 2, individual school building projects will range from new builds to extensions/refurbishments projects for works at primary and post-primary.

“I understand there has also been positive developments on the appointment of a framework of project management and design team consultants, and I welcome today’s notice as continued positive momentum on the programme and to stimulate interest in advance of the tendering process for contractors.  I expect the schools building programme to progress in a timely way to ensure our school facilities are fit for purpose and continue to serve their communities in the same positive way their staff and students do.”

The National Development Finance Agency (NDFA), which is supporting the Department of Education and Skills by delivering an element of the department's school building programme on its behalf, will shortly be releasing a Prior Information Notice (PIN) to the market with a view to stimulating interest in advance of starting the tender process for the appointment of contractors for that programme.

This is separate to the tendering process- a Prior Information Notice is typically issued approximately four weeks in advance of the tendering process commencing.