More snags in build of new home for Laois Special School in Portlaoise

Construction work on the new Kolbe Special School has been delayed further by bad weather and the need to complete more paperwork while the Department of Education says it is "assessing" its "work programme and priorities" for new schools.

Nearly a year after it was put on hold to review the cost of the Portlaoise project, the Department of Education says that necessary enabling works have yet to be completed on the Block Road site.

The Department of Education also confirmed that it cannot give the final go-ahead until a contractor lined up to do the work completes all preconditions in a letter of intent.

The following was outlined to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

"With regard specifically to Kolbe Special School, this is a large-scale capital project located in Portlaoise with a project brief for a new eight classroom special school and appropriate ancillary accommodation. Necessary enabling works under the contract have been progressing on site for a number of months which involved ESB works. The weather has impacted the completion of these works however, it is envisaged that these works should be completed in early April," it said.

The undergrounding of cables through HSE land has been a big stumbling block in the project in the past year. The ESB said at one point that it could not proceed because it had not HSE clearance. After getting clearance early this year the electricity company said it was envisaged that "the works will be completed by the end of February/start of March." 

While the ESB was unable to give an update, photographs taken by the Leinster Expresss / Laois Live on Good Friday appear to show that cables have been undergrounded on the chosen site off the Block Road beside the Cuisle Centre. 

The Department also said the builders will also be required to complete a process before the building contract can be made legally binding.

"The Design Team on the Kolbe Special School project have issued the Letter of Intent to the successful contractor which, once all the contract pre-conditions in the Letter of Intent have been met, the Department will then be giving written authorisation to proceed to Contract and a Letter of Acceptance will be issued," it said.

In its reply to the Leinster Express / Laois Live the Department also outlined the bigger picture but added that a review is underway.

"Since 2020, the Department of Education has invested in the region of €4.5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 800 school building projects with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 31 new school buildings. These 300 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.2bn. This is a record level of investment in our schools and highlights the Government’s very strong track record of delivery in providing additional capacity and modern facilities for our school communities.

"The Department of Education has always operated a tightly prioritised approach to the school building programme, that is primarily focused on the delivery of additional capacity where required. This will continue to be the case. The Department of Education continues to work with delivery partners and Design Teams to progress projects through the pipeline in a timely manner and within the context of overall budgetary parameters.

"Additional capital funding for investment in schools was confirmed on 26 March, as part of a wider review of National Development Plan (NDP) allocations. This will support the continued rollout of the Department’s ambitious school building programme in communities across the country. There are many accommodation pressures to be managed across the programme, and the Department is currently assessing our work programme and priorities in the context of the updated allocations," said the statement.

It appeared that the final obstacles had been cleared in February when it was announced that the Minister for Education had given approval to Kolbe Special School to appoint a contractor. It was claimed that the school couldproceed to sign a contract with a contractor and organise the contractor to move on-site to begin construction works.

It's just over a year since one of the Government's most powerful members, Minister Paschal Donoghue, ordered a review to find out if there is enough money in the €12 billion National Development Plan pot to pay for over 50 new schools including, Kolbe.

This led to major upset in Laois including a public meeting demanding that the project be allowed to proceed. The review at the Department of Public Expenditure did not find a shortfall in funding set aside to cover the cost of the mult-million euro Laois project.

The Kolbe school caters for about 40 children with profound learning disabilities but who are being educated in old prefabs. A campaign has been ongoing for many years for new purpose-built facilities.