Excitement builds in Kilkenny as works on new school begin

Minister for Education, Norma Foley, has announced the beginning of construction on seven large-scale school building projects across the country as part of Project Nore.

Three schools in Kilkenny will receive new and modernised facilities under the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) in a development costing over €250 million.

CBS Kilkenny, Presentation Secondary School and St Canice's Primary School in Kilkenny City are all set to benefit from the project.

Both CBS Kilkenny and Presentation Kilkenny have received funding for new school buildings that will cater for 1,000 students and include special classes for students with additional needs, while St Canice's Primary School have been given the green light for a new 24 classroom school building which will also include special classes.

The additional special class facilities hopes to support the integration and inclusion of students with special educational needs in their local communities.

Construction of the school projects has been awarded to a joint venture partnership between JJ Rhatigan and Co. and ABM Design and Build Ltd.

On Monday, plans became a reality for one of the local schools as construction officially began on the CBS Kilkenny project, with works expected to last 18 months.

Phase one begins with the entrance road and site set up.

Local Fine Gael Councillor, David Fitzgerald, welcomed the developments for the CBS, stating it was 'long overdue' and hailed the commitment of Principal Tom Clarke, Board of Management and staff to get to this point.

Cllr Fitzgerald went on to state the new development will open up new opportunities for students to take part in sport and other activities currently unavailable on the James' Street site due to restricted space.

"Students will now have the same opportunities as others around the country," Mr Fitzgerald commented.