Work gets under way at NWETSS
CONTRACTORS are on site at the former Ravenswell school, preparing the building for its new occupants - North Wicklow Educate Together Secondary School.
Deputy John Brady said that the Department of Education and Minister for Education contacted him last week and updated him on progress.
‘I’m not sure how far advanced they are, but there are big skips there now. There is a fair bit of clear-out work to be done.’
He said that the most time consuming element of the project is expected to be the preparation of more practical classrooms such as woodwork and science labs.
While a completion date has not yet been announced, work is certainly well under way.
Both Deputy John Brady and Deputy Jenifer Whitmore had raised the matter in the Dáil in the past weeks.
It had emerged that a delay in a licence agreement between the state and building owners the Religious Sisters of Charity had held up the commencement of works.
With NWETSS having already packed up everything in its Putland Road premises, where the lease had expired, there were fears that they would have no premises for the start of the school year.
Both TDs said that the school had been let down by the Department of Education.
NWETSS first opened its doors at the old Presentation College building on Putland Road in 2016 and was outgrowing that site with more pupils starting each year. 280 pupils will attend this year.
Minister for Education Norma Foley said that the Department had been working on contingency arrangements if the school building was not ready in time.
The Department of Education followed up with communication that the licence agreement had been finalised and that work would commence imminently.