The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn T.D., today officially opened the new Coláiste Chill Mhantáin, Co Wicklow.
Coláiste Chill Mhantáin is a new 1,000-student school, delivered under the Department’s Public Private Partnership (PPP) Programme, arising from the amalgamation of Abbey Vocational School and De La Salle Secondary School.
Facilities provided in the new school include classrooms, multi media learning laboratories, science laboratories, woodwork and engineering rooms, a dedicated special needs unit and a host of ancillary accommodation.
Speaking in Wicklow Town today, Minister Quinn said: “I would like to take this opportunity to extend my best wishes to all involved who’ve worked so hard to bring this project to completion, the principal, Padraig Donoghue, chairperson of the Board of Management, Patrick Byrne, and chairperson of Wicklow VEC, Michael Lawlor.”
The Minister also thanked all the staff at Coláiste Chill Mhantáin, students, parents and the wider community.
Coláiste Chill Mhantáin is part of a PPP Bundle of five post-primary schools and one primary school (referred to as Schools Bundle 2) which also includes Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí, Athboy Community School, Gaelscoil Bheanntraí, Coláiste Ide agus Iosef, Abbeyfeale, Kildare Town Community School.
The six new schools in this PPP Bundle became operational in late 2011 and provide new accommodation for a total of 4,700 pupils.
The Capital Cost of this project is approximately €90 million, funding for which was provided by a club of banks consisting of Bank of Ireland, NIBC and the European Investment Bank (EIB). The six schools were constructed by John Sisk & Son Ltd.
Minister Quinn continued: “One of the main advantages PPP schools have is that the principal does not have to be involved on a daily basis in maintenance and caretaking issues, allowing him or her to concentrate on the role of principal. These become the responsibility of the PPP operator for the period of the contract.”
The Minister also visited Gaelcoláiste na Mara in Arklow earlier in the day to officially open the school. The secondary school has a current enrolment of 127 pupils and is accommodated in a purpose built €1.3 million modular building.
The DES is currently in negotiations with Wicklow County Council with a view to securing a permanent site for the school, which is currently on a rented site. The modular building can be relocated once such a site is obtained.
Minister Quinn said, “I was delighted to be invited to open Gaelcholáiste na Mara and to meet the students, teachers, parents and principal Máire Mhic Mhuiris.”
“Gaelcoláiste na Mara has been given approval for three new mainstream classrooms as the school expands and this is a testament to the work being done on the ground here,” he concluded.