New multi-million Euro school for Coláiste Mhuire Co Ed in Thurles in the pipeline

Coláiste Mhuire Co Ed in Thurles may be moving location to a greensite site for a brand new multi-million Euro campus right in the heart of Thurles town.

The current forty year old building has come under increasing pressure with up to 37 leaks in the roof, and addition accommodation being provided in modular buildings scattered all around the site. Such is the demand for places in the school that the building is no longer deemed fit for purpose.

And, the matter was discussed in Dáil Éireann today when Independent Deputy Michael Lowry pleaded with An Taoiseach Micheál Martin to help progress the plans for the new school - Mr Martin visited MIC Thurles only two weeks ago and was hugely impressed with the forward planning and vision outlined by the authorities including the desire to provide a greenfield site for the new Coláiste Mhuire school.

Deputy Lowry ( pictured above) asked An Taoiseach about the need for a new school building for Coláiste Mhuire which is currently the only co-educational and multi-denominational school in the town. It has DEIS status and is Thurles only provider of ASD classes for boys in Post Primary Education.

The current structure used by Coláiste Mhuire is over 40 years old and no longer serves its purpose. Deputy Lowry inquired whether the school's accommodation requirements would be met by a new permanent building. Coláiste Mhuire Co-Ed is a very successful and progressive school and the management and staff there have been outstanding, he said. They are delivering excellence in education under extremely difficult circumstances. The Department of Education must recognise that the school needs and deserves proper accommodation and facilities and the only solution is a new school, added Deputy Lowry.

Following Deputy Lowry's question to An Taoiseach, he is pleased to confirm that a new School for Coláiste Mhuire is being considered as part of future developments at the MIC Campus Thurles.

"The school is experiencing continual pressure to accommodate increasing enrolments since 2010.  It has an enrolment of 500 post-primary students, which is an increase of 90% in the past six years.  This enrolment does not include post-leaving certificate students.  The school has reluctantly suppressed enrolments for the past three years.  From 158 applications this coming academic year, the school has only been in a position to accept 120 students.

 " The Department of Education is incorrectly interpreting the demand for places based on the reduced enrolment by the school rather than the actual demand for places.  Following a comprehensive analysis and despite the suppression of numbers, the school has confirmed a projected enrolment of 750 post-primary students.  

" The current building is 40 years old and is not fit for purpose.  The roof is leaking, the school is trying to manage 37 leaks, suspended ceilings are collapsing regularly due to roof leaks and the flooring throughout the building is confirmed as a serious health and safety hazard.  The entire building is in poor condition with an outdated and inefficient heating and energy system.  

 " The Department keeps putting forward stopgap temporary solutions.  Tipperary Education and Training Board has had ongoing interactions and significant discussions with the planning authority in securing permission for temporary units on the school site.  There is grave reluctance on the part of the planning authority to grant permission for additional temporary units to be installed on the site.  The planning authority has told it verbally and in writing that it is strongly of the view that the Department should be prioritising the replacement of the existing temporary units rather than installing more of them," Deputy Lowry said.

An Taoiseach responded: "The Deputy will recall that about a fortnight ago, he and Deputy Cahill accompanied me to the campus of Mary Immaculate College where we met the students and senior management.  Clearly, the indications are that the authorities there would make a site on the campus available for such a new school.  Deputies Lowry and Cahill advocated very strongly for that.

  "Deputy Lowry is aware that the additional accommodation for this school was approved.  This accommodation comprised classrooms, accommodation for students with special educational needs and replacement of prefabs.  This project had advanced to architectural planning stage.  However, Tipperary Education and Training Board then asked the Department to reconsider the long-term needs of the school.  

 Pictured above: An Taoiseach Micheál Martin

"A proposal for a new school building on a greenfield site, which is essentially on the Mary Immaculate campus, was received by the Department in March 2022.  This necessitated a further comprehensive set of reports.  These reports were provided by the education and training board to the Department in late October, which is less than a month ago.  The Department has been reviewing and considering all of this information.  

 " I spoke with the Minister for Education about this following meeting with Deputies Cahill and Lowry about the optimal approach here and what could be exciting and have potential for the future.  A meeting has been fixed for early December by the Department to discuss the accommodation needs of the school with a view to making an early decision in respect of its immediate and long-term needs.  The Department agrees with the education and training board that the capital investment previously approved for the school needs to be increased - so the Department and the education and training board are at one there - so that the accommodation needs can be met. "

Deputy Lowry thanked An Taoiseach for his response and looked forward to seeing further progress being made with the proposal.