The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Huge Halloween ‘treat’ for Listellick NS
Listellick’s long awaited new build set for completion in 2020
LISTELLICK National School Principal Annette Dineen hailed it as ‘a great day for everyone in and our wider school community’ on learning of the exciting news that a 2020 completion date has been set for a brand new school and added facilities.
The Kerry Education and Training Board (KETB) approved the signing of the Service Level Agreement (SLA) for the new eight-classroom school last week, flagging a new era for education in the community.
The building will feature a general purpose room, a library, multi-purpose room as well as offices and staff facilities, and brings the finishing line closer for a project that’s been on the school community’s mind for decades, as Ms Dineen explained to The Kerryman.
“This campaign effectively started around 17 years ago, and I can’t believe it’s finally happening,” she said.
“Our original facility only had three classrooms, and the idea of having a new school has been mooted for a long time as the population outgrew what we had.
“We converted our old hall to provide more classrooms years ago and for at least ten years we’ve had to take a bus to Cumann Iosaef Hall or Abbeydorney to do PE. Both places have been so kind and accommodating, but transport, rent, and other matters have come at a significant cost to the school and parents,” Ms Dineen said.
“One of the main problems we’ve had is that we have three separate buildings on site, so we always have to be dressed for crossing from one building to another. The first reaction we all had to the news was ‘oh, we’ ll be able to dress differently!’.
“We also had a very traumatic incident in 2014 when Storm Darwin blew our roof off during classes, and we had to evacuate the building. That ramped up our urgency to get the project off the ground.”
The Department of Education confirmed in 2013 that it would purchase a site for a new school subject to planning. The site, across the road from the present school, was purchased a few years later after planning was secured. The Department of Education has asked the KETB to take responsibility for the construction of the new school.
“The next stage will see the KETB drawing up the design plans before the works go out to tender. We told the pupils on Friday there would be a new school in 2020, and they were all thrilled that we’ ll soon have an end to having to bring umbrellas and raincoats to school every day!
“Some of the older classes were a little sad that they’ll be gone before the new school opens, and some of the kids were a bit disappointed that they won’t have to get the bus to the halls in Abbeydorney and Cumann Iosaef anymore, because they loved the spin out.
“But the overall feeling is that everyone’s feeling ecstatic that it’s finally happening for us.
Ms Dineen said there were many to thank for helping the school get to the point of securing the good news.
“The list of people I must thank is endless, and it’s so long that I don’t want to highlight names. I must however thank all the TDs and councillors who have helped us over the years and, of course, successive boards of management and the school communities. The finish-line is in sight at last!”
The news was also welcomed by Kerry ETB Cathaoirleach Councillor Jim Finucane and CEO Colm McEvoy.
“I am pleased that the ETB Board approved the signing of the Service Level Agreement between Kerry ETB and the Department of Education and
Skills for Listellick National School,” Mr McEvoy said.
“This is the first occasion the ETB has been requested to deliver a major building project outside of its own scheme. We look forward to working with the Board of Management, Principal, Staff and the School Community in progressing to completion for December 31 2020.”