Tipperary school sees long-awaited progress for additional accommodation

The Fianna Fáil TD for North Tipperary and Northwest Kilkenny, Ryan O’Meara has welcomed long-awaited progress for additional accommodation for Scoil Eoin Naofa, Roscrea.

Following representations to the Department of Education on behalf of the school, Deputy O’Meara confirmed that he received an update from the Minister for Education, Helen McEntee TD that the extension of two mainstream classrooms, including prefab replacement, one special education room (SET) and one early intervention unit has now progressed to Stage 2a (developed design).

Speaking on this today, Deputy O’Meara said: “I am pleased to share a progress report that I received from Minister Helen McEntee in relation to the long-awaited extension to Scoil Eoin Naofa, Roscrea.

“This school was approved for funding under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (2020) for the provision of two Mainstream Classroom (Prefab replacement), one SET room, and one Early Intervention Unit.

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“A Stage 1 Report was submitted to the Department in February 2024 and was reviewed from both a technical and cost perspective in accordance with the requirements of the Public Spending Code. We had been waiting a full year for this to progress and I am glad to have assisted in moving this application along.”

In response to Deputy O’Meara’s enquiries into the extension for Scoil Eoin Naofa in Roscrea, the Minister for Education wrote: “All projects, including this one, will undergo the necessary due diligence outlined in the public Infrastructure Guidelines. I am pleased to advise that this project was progressed to Stage 2a (developed design) subject to comments from the Department being incorporated.”

Deputy O’Meara continued, saying: “Last month, the Fianna Fáil Minister for Special Education, Michael Moynihan TD announced that Scoil Eoin Naofa, Roscrea is to open a new special class in September of this year to provide additional special education places locally for the upcoming academic year. This is very positive and badly needed progress in this area.

“I would like to acknowledge the hard work done to date by school principal, Mark McLoughlin, and Board of Management on this project. It is vital, in my view, that all ongoing school building projects across the constituency are delivered in a timely manner, and I will continue to work on several local projects to see them progress as quickly as possible.”