REACTION: 'It's very exciting' Kolbe Special School in Laois ready for shovels
Portlaoise site of special school all clear for construction to start
Hope is building at Kolbe Special School in Portlaoise that their new building will start to fly up, with the latest obstacle now buried.
Overhead ESB Networks cables that blocked the start of construction are now safely under the ground at the site on the Block Road.
The Minister for Education Norma Foley has now given approval to Kolbe to appoint their construction contractor.
The school reacted with delight at the announcement made on February 18 by Minister of State Sean Fleming.
"We are delighted to announce that we are moving to the next stage 2 of our new school. We are now ready to issue a Letter of Intent to the building contractor.
"We should see builders on-site in the next few weeks! It’s very exciting for everyone here in our school," they said.
Orlaith Kerrigan is a school parent and parents' representative.
"Great news for students and their families and also for the unsung heroes of the whole piece - the dedicated school staff at Kolbe Special School Portlaoise.
"Parents heartily welcome, and are very grateful for, the news that a contractor will now be appointed to the new build for Kolbe Special School.
"A new purpose built building is no more than the students at Kolbe and their dedicated school staff and nurses deserve.
What else is there to say except roll on September 2025," she told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.
Laois TD Charlie Flanagan has also welcomed the progress.
"I am particularly happy that the ESB works have been completed, the letter of intent has now issued.
"The successful contractor is now being informed. I expect arrangements will be made for works to start without delay," Dep Flanagan said.
Two more weeks of inaction are ahead however.
Green Party Portlaoise local election candidate Rosie Palmer with Senator Pippa Hackett gave details.
"We are delighted to confirm that at following the completion of ESB works at the site for Kolbe special school, Education Minister Norma Foley, has given approval for the school design team to issue a letter of intent to the contractor. This clears the way for the tender to be awarded, once the mandatory two-week cooling off period is over."
"We are committed to continuing to work with Minister Foley to ensure that the building of the new Kolbe Special School proceeds without delay."
The building is expected to take 18 months, meaning it will have to start in March to be open as promised for September 2025.
Kolbe Special School in Portlaoise relies on poorly insulated prefabs, to teach and nurse 44 of Laois' most vulnerable children with severe to profound special needs. A plan for a new building was first discussed in the year 2000.
A site is waiting for several years. Planning and €8.7m of funding are approved, site preparation began in May 2023 and the main contractor is selected and waiting.