Education Minister asked to stop playing games on Portlaoise's Kolbe Special School

Minister for Education Norma Foley was asked to ‘stop playing games’ around Kolbe Special School in Portlaoise. 

Kolbe caters for 43 of the most vulnerable children in Laois in completely inadequate conditions. Many of the children have profound learning difficulties and need specialist equipment and facilities.  

Staff, students and parents had been promised a new school and with planning and Departmental approval, the new school with correct facilities was due to be delivered by the end of 2024

However, just days after preparatory building works began, the Department contacted the school to say the build was on hold pending a review due to capital budget pressures. Kolbe was one of 58 schools nationally to receive such news. 

Deputy Carol Nolan raised the issue in the Dail with Minister Foley on Wednesday, March 29. 

“I recently submitted a parliamentary question to the Minister regarding the Kolbe Special School in my constituency,’ Deputy Nolan said. She said she was told the Government's immediate priority is to cater for requirements for September 2023. 

“I was also informed that the Department is engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform on capital funding pressures in order to continue to be able to adequately support the operation of the school system with the roll-out of school building projects to tender and construction in 2023 and to minimise project delays to the greatest extent possible.” 

“Quite frankly, this is ridiculous. If the money is going to be allocated, then let the tenders go out and, if not, just tell the parents, schools and boards of management straight up. Tell them the truth and stop playing games,” said Deputy Nolan. 

Minister for Education Norma Foley had earlier spoken about the review process. 

“The Department's planning and building unit is currently assessing its work programme and priorities for 2023 in the context of its available funding. We are currently engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in respect of these funding arrangements,” she said. 

“I am appreciative of the support which has been offered by the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, in this regard. The Department has sought to reassure relevant school communities that school building projects that are currently on hold due to capital funding pressures will be progressed and delivered,” said Minister Foley. 

“At this point it is simply a question of the timing of that. The Department is well aware of the urgency of getting these projects delivered as quickly as possible,” she said.

Devastated Laois special school staff 'near breaking point'

She declined a request to publish a list of the delayed projects. 

“It is best and appropriate for communications to be done at individual school level and that is the approach that has been taken. The Department has prioritised engagement with boards of management and principals before publishing wider information and will be providing a further update to individual schools when engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform concludes,” she stated. 

“In tandem with this, the Department’s planning and building unit will also be updating patron bodies and school management bodies at that stage,” added Minister Foley.