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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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St Mary's Hall in Portlaoise was packed in March where the the public protested at a decision to delay Kolbe
The Prioritise Kolbe Committee has welcomed the Government's announcement to lift the delay on building a new school but issued a statement striking a note of caution about the decision.
The committee is made up of school management, staff and parents at Kolbe Special School in Portlaoise. Despite the dire need for new facilities, the school’s planned new building was placed on hold by the government last month over budget concerns.
Minister for Education Norma Foley yesterday announced that the planned new school which was on a list of 58 on hold projects, was to proceed along with all the others.
The committee issued the following statement in response last night:
"The Prioritise Kolbe Committee is pleased that common sense has prevailed at Government level and that our new school building project can now proceed to tender.
Having had years of false starts, broken assurances and being overlooked we are cautiously optimistic that our new building will now progress to tender and beyond.
We now require for the date that the project goes to tender which must be within the next couple of weeks.
We further require a commitment that the building work proper, commences no later than end of October 2023.
The Planning and Building section of the Department of Education must work with Kolbe Special school to fast track this new build which has very regrettably languished on the 'to do list' for years.
We still require answers from the Planning and Building section as to what place and priority Kolbe Special School has been allocated on that list of 58 building works to be completed.
Those questions must be addressed and the operation of the list clearly and publicly explained to us.
We will keep everyone updated and we thank everyone for their support.
The good people of Laois and beyond have never been found wanting when Kolbe has put out a call for support.
As a school community we will continue to push this project until our pupils have the dignity of a safe clean and physically fit for purpose building.
We thank each and every person who has taken an interest in our #prioritisekolbe campaign.
Please keep that support and interest going."
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