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Minister for Education, Norma Foley, TD, turns the sod for the construction of a new school building for Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí in Tralee of which of approximately €16m has been allocated for this project under Project Ireland 2040. Photo By : Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD .
KERRY Education and Training Board (Kerry ETB) and Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí were delighted to welcome the Minister for Education, Norma Foley, TD, to turn the sod for the construction of a new school building for Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí on Friday.
The new 75,000 sq. ft. building with a capacity to cater for 600 students will enable the Gaelcholáiste to accommodate its expanding student population which has necessitated a second campus since 2016.
Funding of approximately €16m has been allocated for this project under Project Ireland 2040. The Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí Campas Nua will be built on a 6.5-acre site at Clonmore in Tralee, which was provided by Kerry County Council.
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Minister for Education Norma Foley TD said: “I welcome the opportunity to attend this socially distanced turning of the sod on this ambitious new school project for Gaelcholaiste Chiarrai. The new building represents a significant investment of approximately €16 million and will include 22 general classrooms, 4 science labs, a Library and specialist rooms for Art, Technical Graphics, Materials Technology Wood, Music, Home Economics and ICT.”
“The new 75,000 sq.ft building will have a capacity to cater for 600 students, while the campus will also include a Sports Hall, Fitness Suite, hard-court play areas and further developments to include a Hurling Wall and a training pitch. I would like to commend Kerry ETB and Kerry County Council for their tireless commitment and endeavour to this project and for ensuring that this fine institution will continue to enrich, empower and inspire Kerry students through the Irish language, for many years to come.”
Ruairí Ó Cinnéide, príomhoide, Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí said, “At present there are students from up to 40 different primary schools attending Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí. It is very important to us that students from all primary schools realise that Gaelcholaiste Chiarraí is a viable option for them for their second level education. Students, and their parents, are sometimes anxious about making the transition into an All-Irish learning environment as they often underestimate their own competency in spoken and written Irish, however, we would always recommend that they contact us to discuss this as the vast majority of students are well capable of making the transition.”
Kerry Education and Training Board Chief Executive, Mr Colm McEvoy has welcomed the decision to allow the vital project to proceed as it will enable Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí to cater for increasing enrolments when completed.
“I am delighted that the Department of Education have affirmed the critical importance of delivering this post-primary educational facility. The new school building will enable the Management of the school to cater for the increasing demands to access post primary education through medium of Irish, in Tralee and the surrounding area. The new school building when complete will provide a modern, state of art teaching and learning environment for students and staff. We are very appreciative of the support we have received form the Local Community and Kerry Co. Co. in advancing this project. We all look forward to the completion of the new school building.”
Chairperson of Kerry Education and Training Board, Cllr. Jim Finucane in welcoming the commencement of the formal construction phase of the building stated: “The commencement of the construction of the new Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí school building is very welcome development for Tralee and the wider area. This new building project is being managed by the ETB Head Office buildings team and is being delivered under the devolved projects funding model. The planning and preparation for this project have been ongoing for many years and I am delighted that all of that work has come to fruition. The provision of the site by Kerry Co. Co. for the new school was a significant milestone for this project coupled with excellent work of the ETB Management and the design team in progressing the project thought the various design and approval stages with the Department in recent years. As with any project of this nature it will give a significant boost to the local Tralee economy during and beyond the construction phase.”
