Kolbe Special School in Portlaoise approved to go to tender

The new Kolbe Special School in Portlaoise has been approved to go to tender. 

The announcement by the Department of Education marks a significant step for the project which had been placed on hold pending a financial review last month. 

The school caters for 43 of Laois’s most vulnerable children in Laois in inadequate and unsuitable conditions in Portlaoise. 

A Government decision to place the new school project on hold last month had caused widespread outrage. Management, staff, parents and pupils at Kolbe, who have been waiting 23 years for a new premises, mounted a campaign to try and restart the project. Last week the government announced the new school plans were no longer on hold. 

Kolbe Special School posted a message expressing delight at the announcement. 

Minister of State in the Department of Foreign Affairs, Sean Fleming said he was pleased the new Kolbe School Building Project has been approved today to go to tender.

“This is the news we have all been waiting for,” he said.  

Laois TD Charlie Flanagan says that construction will start as soon as possible.

"Pleased to confirm further progress on new 8 classroom Kolbe special school on a greenfield site at Block Road, Portlaoise. Approval to go to tender has now been granted. Building on site will start as soon as possible," Dep Flanagan said on Twitter.

Minister Pippa Hackett also welcomed the news. 

"While we had received assurances that this was in process, today's confirmation that the Kolbe Special School project is to proceed to tender is a significant milestone. My thanks to the whole school community who have brought this important project to this point. I am well aware of how difficult some of the journey has been. Onwards and upwards from here," said Minister Hackett. 

Minister Fleming said he had detailed discussions with the Minister for Education, Norma Foley over recent weeks highlighting the special circumstances of Kolbe Special School. 

“I am pleased that the Minister has informed me today that she has given approval for the new Kolbe Special School building to go to tender. This is indeed a very welcome development,” he said. 

“This clears the way for the consultants employed by Kolbe Special School to finalise the tender documents.  Once this is completed the consultants and the school can then forward these tender documents to the Department for clearance.  The Minister has today given approval to go to tender and I hope this process can be completed as quickly as possible,” said Minister Fleming. 

“Like everybody with an interest in Kolbe Special School I welcome this great news.  We all share the same aim of getting the new school built as soon as possible,” he added. 

Minister Fleming said getting a new Kolbe Special School for Portlaoise is his number one priority. 

“I want to acknowledge and thank the entire school community and the people of Laois for their support for Kolbe Special School,” he said. 

“Finally, the students, staff, parents and families of those who attend Kolbe Special School must be fully supported.  I look forward to us all working together between now and when the new school is ultimately built and opened to replace the existing school building,” said Minister Fleming. 

The proposed new school is estimated to cost in the region of €9 million. It will have eight general classrooms, a Hall, specialist educational spaces, administration areas, circulation areas, and other ancillary accommodation.

'Common sense' - Laois special school campaign cautiously greet decision on Kolbe

The project will also involve the provision of new vehicular/pedestrian site entrances, mini-bus drop-off spaces, car drop-off areas, car-parking spaces, bicycle parking spaces, new fencing and boundary treatment around entire site, a bin store, external play, sports and educational areas, landscaped external areas. 

The existing Kolbe Special School is primarily prefabricated, lacking in space and facilities. There is no PE Hall as the space provided is being used for specialist equipment.