Extension not yet at design stage

A design team has yet to be appointed ahead of getting started on a planned extension at Coláiste Chraobh Abhann in Kilcoole.

The school has received correspondence from the National Development Finance Agency informing them that the procurement of a design team is on-going.

‘The NDFA in December had informed us that they had issued the first round of letters with a view to appointment, which we eagerly await,’ said school principal Oliver Stack. This first round of letters refers to the tender for a design partner for the Project Boyne schools bundle.

Works to the Kilcoole school will provide a further 85 places and bring its total number to 800.

Coláiste Chraobh Abhann is currently at maxiumum capacity.

This comes after it emerged that around 170 to 190 further school places are required to accommodate all pupils in the Greystones area seeking places in first year in September 2021. Coláiste Chraobh Abhann offered 120 places to four base classes of 30 students, which is the maximum it can enrol within the existing facilities.

The application for an extension was made in 2014 and has been approved.

The Department of Education said that it is satisfied that places can be found for all pupils.

It is engaging with patron bodies in relation to increasing their intake for September 2021.

Deputy Jennifer Whitmore said that it is ‘unacceptable’ that the extension to Coláiste Chraobh Abhainn is still ‘a number of years away from being completed’.

The other schools in the group of six are located in Carlow, Kildare and Meath.