School waits 27 years for new building

A Gaelscoil which has been waiting almost three decades for a permanent building is among a number of schools impacted by the knock-on effects of stalled building projects by the Department of Education.

Gaelscoil Phádraig, in Ballybrack, has been in temporary accommodation for 27 years. The school opened in a local football club, before renting rooms from a nearby secondary school. It moved to its current, temporary site in 2000.

However, the department later decided to put another school in the building “temporarily”, while their own was being built. That project has since been hit by delays and setbacks, meaning the school has remained in situ for the last 16 years.

Principal Róise Uí Labhraidh said: “Since 2007, consistently we have been told it could be two years before we’d have progress on our building.

“Since then, we contact the Department every few months and we are told next quarter, next quarter,” she said.

“It’s impossible to plan for, and they have given us no timeframe. It’s not good enough.”

Delays to construction will only lead to costs elsewhere, Ms Uí Labhraidh believes. “What about the cost of the rentals of prefabs?” she asked.

The Department of Education has confirmed that 58 projects due to go to tender or construction at were expected to start this year.

The department said it would provide “clarity” to schools about forthcoming building projects as soon as possible amid concerns about widespread delays.

About 300 school building projects — including more than 40 new buildings — were already in construction at the start of 2023, most of which will be completed in 2023/early 2024, the department said.

Education Minister Norma Foley said her department was continuing talks with the Department of Public Expenditure to ensure funding for the 58 projects was released as soon as possible.