Funding approved by department for new amalgamated secondary school
By Maurice Garvey
FUNDING has been approved by the Department of Education for the new amalgamated secondary school in Ballyfermot, reports Maurice Garvey.
St John’s College, Caritas College and St Dominic’s College are planning for the amalgamation of the three schools into one Catholic voluntary secondary school.
St John’s College is planning an amalgamation with Caritas College and St Dominic’s College
The Echo understands tenders for the design team have been advertised, and the construction value of the contract is in excess of €5 million.
The proposed opening date is September 2022.
A letter by the Trustees of the schools Le Chéile and CEIST was sent out to the schools.
It said the Department of Education has informed the Trustees, that it has approved “a substantial grant to enable the progression of the amalgamation”.
These facilities will enable the new school to accommodate 800 students.
“This is a very exciting development for Ballyfermot enabling the provision of the broadest educational curriculum to the boys and girls of the area in an inclusive Catholic secondary school incorporating the ethos and traditions of the three constituent schools,” said the Trustees.
The new school will open on the St John’s College site, incorporating the existing facilities at St John’s.
Department funding will provide for additional classrooms and new facilities, including six general classrooms, three special education tuition, two special needs classrooms and two science labs.
New facilities will also see a home economics room, a textiles room, an art room, a technology room and a design and communications graphic room.
According to Trustees, the site on Le Fanu Road also provides “significant space for the development of outdoor extra-curricular facilities”.
“The process to secure a full-size sports hall/ gymnasium for indoor activities on the site continues apace. The process of appointing a design team has begun, with assistance from the Buildings Advisory Officer of the Joint Managerial Body. When appointed, the design team will work on the preparation of a preliminary design, a programme of works and a timeline for the project.”
The Trustees have appointed a Buildings Advisory Group comprising of the Trustees themselves, the Principals and Chairpersons of the three schools, and the Chairperson of the new school committee. The Echo contacted the Dept of Education for comment.
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