"When Are We Ever Going To Get This Building?" Naas Community Demands Answers On Mercy Convent Primary School Expansion

A public meeting will be held tonight at 8.30pm in Lawlor's Hotel in Naas to discuss the matter.

"When are we ever going to get this building?"

That's the question being asked by Brian Corkery, Assistant Principal at Mercy Convent Primary School in Naas.

He said 60 pupils are sharing three toilets, with no P.E hall and small classrooms.

The school staff room is also being used as a utility room.

He said some primary school pupils have completed their full education in a modular building, despite being told they would only be there for 15 months.

He said a letter of intent to start work at the school was meant to be issued last October.

However, it has still not been issued.

"We are having to maximise every inch of space," Mr Corkery said.

He said it is extremely disheartening for students, parents and the wider community.

Cllr Bob Quinn said the issue has gone on too long.

A public meeting will be held tonight at 8.30pm in Lawlor's Hotel in Naas to discuss the matter.

The extension would see 200 additional class spaces, with the entire community benefiting.

Cllr Quinn said the meeting will send a clear message to Education Minister, Norma Foley, that no more delays will be accepted.

In a recent statement to North Kildare TD Catherine Muprhy TD, Norma Foley TD said:

"I want to reassure the Deputy and the Mercy Convent Primary School community that the school building project will be progressed and delivered. My Department will update the school authorities when there is a further update on the progression of the major project."

She added: "Until the contractor is appointed it is not possible to provide an estimated completion date. However once the contractor has been appointed, it is expected that it will take approx 15 months to complete the project."

In a statement to Kfm, a spokesperson for the Department of Education said: "Mercy Convent Primary School Naas is a large-scale capital project in with a project brief for a new 32 classroom school on the same site as the existing school. The original contract commenced on site in May 2017 but due to issues on site the contract was terminated in March 2020.  An enabling works contract was undertaken in late 2020 to make the building safe and weather-tight." 

They added: "The school decanted to temporary accommodation in 2017.  Two classrooms for children with special educational needs were added to the brief in 2023. The Design Team Stage 2(b) confirmations and the completion of the pre-qualification process for the completion contract, were completed in March 2023 and the project commenced the tender stage." 

"The Tender Report was received from Mercy Convent Primary School Board of Management and the Design Team by the Department of Education in September 2023 and the analysis and review of same is at an advanced stage.  The next step in relation to the project is the authorisation to issue the Letter of Intent to the successful tenderer. As per procurement rules, there is a 14 day standstill period, following which, should the contractor accept, a Letter of Acceptance can issue. Only when the Letter of Acceptance has issued is there a contract in place to enable construction to commence and all the contract terms and conditions apply," they said.

They added: "Once the contractor has been appointed, it is expected that it will take approximately 15 months to complete the project. In relation to the project above, the Design Team and Department of Education officials are in contact with the Board of Management of the school, ensuring they are fully briefed on the progression of the project."