Staff and pupils celebrate moving into new building in Lucan – after 20 years
By Maurice Garvey
IT’S BEEN in the works for over 20 years, but staff and pupils at St Andrews National School in Lucan, finally celebrated the move into their brand new building last week.
On Monday, Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald was the guest at a welcome ceremony in St Andrews new two-storey, 16-classroom building.
Reverend Scott Peoples, Chairman of the Board of Management, thanked Minister Fitzgerald for her involvement with, and support of, the project – which is understood to have cost approximately €4 million
.
Speaking at the welcome ceremony, Fitzgerald said: “It is fantastic to be in the new building today. I am delighted to join with Rev Peoples, the teachers, staff, parents and, most importantly, pupils on this joyous celebration.”
“I have worked closely along with Cllr William Lavelle in recent months with St Andrew’s staff and management, in particular the Chair of the Board of Management Rev Scott Peoples, former Principal Inez Cooper, Principal Julie Chapman, and the parents to ensure that progress is made on this vital project.
Staff and students in St Andrews were formerly located in a parish-owned hall, which became outdated and too small to cater for the growth of the school.
Minister Fitzgerald continued: “I worked with the Department of Education, the State Solicitor and the Office of Public Works to secure acquisition of the site, which proved to be a complex matter. I assisted with a number of legal issues involved in the project and to progress the development of the school to ensure the project progressed in a timely and efficient manner.”
After visiting the school’s previously “cramped and ageing facilities” on a number of occasions, Minister Fitzgerald said the school community had displayed “plenty of patience and perseverance.”
“I am delighted now that with the changing economic situation that funding was allocated for this school building, along with a number of other school buildings in the area,” she said.
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