Heartbreak as school for most vulnerable children in Laois put on hold

The Principal of Kolbe Special School said the postponement of a new school building has caused devastation and heartbreak for parents, staff and students. 

Kolbe Special School Principal Orlagh Mahon said they received an email and a phone call on Tuesday telling them the new school was being put on hold. The email cited capital expenditure budget pressures. 

“This is absolutely devastating news. We are very disappointed, we are heartbroken for the children that attend the school and heartbroken for the staff,” Ms Mahon said this morning. 

Kolbe Special School in Portlaoise, which caters for 41 children, has been operating out of a premises that is unfit for purpose for years. Staff, parents and children had been told a new school was to be built and it was expected to be delivered in the autumn of 2024. 

“We are in a building that is not fit for purpose at the moment,” said Ms Mahon, who pointed out that her students are among the most vulnerable children in Laois. 

“It is the children that deserve it. They need it,” she said. She said the current  building doesn’t have a sensory room and the PE hall is being used for storage due to lack of space. 

“We are here since 2000. I remember putting in plans in 2000… that is how long we are waiting,” said Ms Mahon. 

“It is hard when you see all the new schools in Portlaoise that are built and yet all the most vulnerable children are in this building,” said Ms Mahon. 

Staff, students and parents were looking forward to getting the new school with all of the necessary facilities. The plans were in place. 

“On Friday the green light was given for the preliminary works to go ahead,” Ms Mahon explained. 

The announcement from the Department means there is now no clarity in relation to the delivery of the new school. The €8.7 million new school building project went to tender last year. 

Above an artists impression of the planned new school

Laois County Council granted planning permission in early 2022 to the project which has been in the pipeline for many years. The school is heavily dependent on prefabs at present with conditions cramped and some rooms used for storage.

The Kolbe Special School specifically caters for children (age 4-18) within the severe to profound learning disability spectrum and/or autism. 

Confirmation that the long-awaited building of a new school for children with special needs in Portlaoise was branded a ‘disgrace’ by local Aontu representative.

Aontú Rep for Laois, Eleanor Deane Maher said parents and teachers are stunned and upset at the news. 

She made the comments after Kolbe Special School in Portlaoise received  correspondence from the Department of Education saying that the funding for the building of the new premises to house the school has now been put on hold.

Pictured above. A screenshot of Kolbe Special School's social media page

“This is devastating news for all connected with the Kolbe School. The parents and teachers are absolutely stunned and deeply upset at this development. It has literally come out of the blue,” she remarked.  

“There had been much relief when the Government gave the go ahead for the school; it was actually announced in a fanfare and local TD Sean Fleming actually admitted it was long overdue. The Dept has given no indication whatsoever of how long this project will be on hold for. It states that the Department’s Planning and Building Unit is currently assessing its work programme and priorities for 2023,” Ms Maher explained.  

“This is an absolute disgrace. The parents of children with special needs have to fight for every single thing they get and to see the Dept of Education refer to them as not a ‘priority’ is shameful. Most of the little children are not mobile and they are being taught in cabins”.

“I know that the  Board of Management at Kolbe is working on a response to this. The love and care these very special children are given by the staff is incredible. I have seen this first hand, they do all in their power to make the children’s lives bright and comfortable, they are so genuinely caring and compassionate and my heart goes out to them today,” she said. 

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“Currently there are 58 school building projects, including this major and much needed project for Kolbe Special School on hold for proceeding to tender. This is quite inexplicable; 58 schools is a huge amount and it reflects our Government’s deep lack of genuine leadership, transparency, ability  and misplaced priorities. On one hand we are told that we are fiscally sound, on the other we are being told that the money is not there for the most vulnerable,” claimed Ms Maher.    

“Given that we are a few short weeks away from Easter, with our Proclamation urging all children to be cherished equally, it is sad and shocking that the reality is anything but,” she said. 

“I am going to keep up the pressure on this, I can’t in all conscience allow this treatment of children, parents and staff who deserve nothing but support and help,” she said.