Laois councillors threaten Dáil protest over 'mind boggling' halt to Special School build in Portlaoise

Portlaoise county councillors have slammed the ‘mind boggling’ decision to place the building of Kolbe Special School on hold. 

Members of the Portlaoise Municipal District agreed to write to the Taoiseach, Tanaiste and all relevant ministers at the latest meeting of the municipal district.

“We have to get those letters to those people because our county council meeting is not till the last Monday of the month. We need to get back confirmation, yes or no,” said Cllr Willie Aird. 

“Then let’s see what action the council can take, as Catherine(Cllr Fitzgerald) said by way of a deputation. I would certainly go to protest outside the Dail, absolutely, no question,” he said. 

“I couldn’t believe it when I heard it and I know an awful lot of my colleagues would be the same. Of all the places to pull the money…. It’s mind boggling from that point of view,” he  said. 

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald described the decision to put the school building on hold as “absolutely disgraceful decision” and said any measures to help the school should be supported. 

“The most vulnerable children in our community. The way they have been treated, and their families and the workers up there. I fully support everything we can do as councillors,” she said. 

She said the school has been left behind for years and then when their hopes were built up the rug was pulled from under them. 

Cllr Barry Walsh said the decision to place the project on hold was very disappointing. 

“The recent announcement has caused a great distress for all of the students and parents and staff,” he said. 

“We have a motion in that the tender process be expedited without further delay,” he said. The motion was unanimously agreed. 

“It goes to show how the government value the most vulnerable in society,” said Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley.  

“We can no longer accept that the most vulnerable in our society will be treated in such as disgraceful way,” she said. 

Agreeing with her fellow councillors, Cllr Marie Tuohy said her initial reaction on hearing the news was anger. 

“It is just absolutely disgraceful. They say society is measured on how they treat their most vulnerable. Well, that’s an indictment on the decision-makers. Not alone should the funding be returned, the whole process should be fast tracked,” she said. 

Parents plead for Laois people power by signing a petition to reverse Government delay of new special school

Cllr John Joe Fennelly said he believed there would be a move in April.

“We all know families that are involved there and certainly them and their children don’t deserve this,” he said.

The Department of Education has said it is consulting with the Department of Public Expenditure on plans for Kolbe and 58 other schools.

The Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohue has said he wants to check if there is enough money in a €12 billion pot to pay for Kolbe and the other schools around Ireland.

The new Kolbe School has planning permission, designs are in place and it has been costed at €9 million. The school provides education for about 40 children with profound learning and other disabilities. It largely relies on prefabs on the Block Road in Portlaoise.