Groundhog day for Laois special school planned for Portlaoise

Plans for ESB work are continuing to block the start of construction of a new Laois special needs school.

The Minister of State for Special Education Josepha Madigan gave an update on January 31 on the planned Kolbe Special School in Portlaoise, after a request by Laois TD Charlie Flanagan.

It is three weeks since ESB Networks said their work to put the second of two power wires underground "would now be expedited" after getting a goahead from the HSE as landowner.

Now another waiting game has begun, this time for the ESB to supply a "programme of works".

"There are two individual ESB line installation works to be completed at the new site - the first was completed in December 2023, in relation to the second line, the HSE issued the signed and sealed SWA1 (deed of transfer easement for underground cables) to the ESB 9th January 2024. Following an update received on 29th January from the Design Team, the Project Design Team are awaiting receipt of the ESB programme of works for installation of the 10kv line," Minister Madigan said.

She said that ducting pipes to take the cables underground are in place since last October.

"‎The Enabling works contractor completed the ground works for the ESB ducting in October 2023, and remaining works for the diversion of the ESB overhead wires will be co-ordinated by ESB Networks Ireland and the Design Team."

The Minister repeated the procedure to get shovels in the ground, first given last December by the Department of Education.

"On completion of the ESB works, the enabling works Contractor will have approximately 1 weeks’ work remaining to make the site safe and to decant from the site to enable the main contractor to commence.

"‎‎The Invitation to Tender issued in April 2023 and the tenders to build the new school itself were received from contractors in late September 2023. Recent experience has shown that a Tender stage can take between 8-12 months from the initial Invitation to Tender, subject to no issues arising.

"‎The Tender Report was received from the Kolbe Board of Management and the Design Team is currently under review.  Only when the Letter of Acceptance has issued is there a contract in place and all the contract terms and conditions apply. 

"However, in this particular instance it will not be possible to issue the Letter of Acceptance until the enabling works contract is completed and unencumbered possession of the site is available to the incoming contractor for the new school building."

Deputy Flanagan said he will continue to push the case.

"The progression of the Kolbe Special School project remains a priority for me and my team," he told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

The school who rely on cramped, poorly insulated prefabs, has been given another modular en-suite classroom.

"‎In parallel to the enabling works and the tender process, the School Authorities received approval for a classroom for children with special educational needs in 2023 with an area of 100m2, to be installed on the site currently occupied by Kolbe Special School.  The Department assisted the Modular Building Contractor and School Authorities in determining the layout, including assisted user WC Facilities. Additional Boundary Fencing and some external play area works were also agreed.
‎This modular unit was completed and made available to the school for the start of the first term of 2024."

Its principal Orlagh Mahon told the Leinster Express / Laois Live earlier in January that she is still hopeful that work on the new eight classroom special school will start in March.

She hopes the 18 month build will be ready by September 2025 for the children to move in, as scheduled.