Top class car park opens at Offaly school on first day of term

ST Kieran’s National School Broughal, Kilcormac, were successful recipients of Clár funding thanks to an application made by Elected Members and staff of Birr Municipal District and the Roads and Transport Department of Offaly County Council.

Speaking on the first day of the new academic year, Helena Dunne, Principal of St Kieran’s NS, confirmed “On behalf of the Board of Management of St Kieran’s NS, I wish to acknowledge the efforts of all the staff in Offaly County Council, especially John Mitchell Birr Municipal District Senior Executive Engineer and his team, who worked tirelessly to provide us with such a top-class car parking facility. The school is most grateful to Birr Municipal District Elected Member, Cllr. John Leahy, who guided us along every step of the way, from applying for Clár funding for the project, to then helping us consult with Offaly County Council in providing for the carpark” added Ms Dunne.

Senior Executive Engineer, John Mitchell confirmed “the nature of this scheme was to make the road-side carpark and footpaths of St. Kieran’s National School safer for pupils, parents, and staff attending the school, and safer for users of the adjacent public road. The work entailed the creation of a drop-off area, footpaths, and a staff carpark. I am delighted to confirm the work was undertaken by Birr Municipal District staff and was completed to a remarkably high standard.”

“Clár funding is a targeted investment programme, tailored to small-scale infrastructural projects in rural areas that have suffered the greatest levels of population decline. Offaly County Council staff were delighted to work with St Kieran’s National School and Birr Municipal District members to ensure this project was completed before the new school year began. On behalf of all parties involved, I want to thank the Department of Rural and Community Development for providing funding for this project” added Ann Dillon, Manager of Birr Municipal District and Director of Services with Offaly County Council.

Cathaoirleach of Birr Municipal District Cllr John Clendennen further noted if “a local community has a project that may benefit from funding, please contact your local elected representative who can bring it to the attention of Offaly County Council for future funding consideration. Working together, and on behalf of the community, we can bring more projects like this to Offaly.”