Green light finally given to build Laois Kolbe Special School in Portlaoise

The long-awaited green light to start building a new home for the Kolbe Special School building in Laois has finally arrived after a struggle fought by parents, staff and the local community.

After several false dawns and delays, Minister for Education Norma Foley TD says notification was sent to the Portlaoise school on Friday, April 19, while Kolbe School understands that it could take up nearly another month before the 18 month job can actually begin.

The school gave an announcement with a new timeline that if met, could see the school opened by Christmas 2025.

"Everything is in order and we will be issuing the Letter of Acceptance to the builders next week. Once this letter is issued the builders have 20 days to be onsite. Thank you to everyone for all your patience, your persistence and hard work during all of this. Our New School is coming," they confirmed.

Sean Fleming TD, Minister of State, announced that approval was issued that day for the contractor to start.

The children who have serious special needs remain in poorly insulated, cramped prefabs, a full 24 years since a new purpose built school was first promised.

A public meeting to demand a new school for Kolbe held in March 2023. Photo: Leinster Express

Kolbe Parents Association gave their relieved reaction to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

"Parents heartily welcome the news that the necessary paperwork has issued to the school to enable construction to begin on the new school.

Minister Fleming gave this statement.

"The Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD, has confirmed everything is in order and the contractor is in a position to commence construction, now that his insurance and other details have been clarified.

"The Letter of Acceptance has been issued by the Department today, 19^th April now that everything is completed from the contractor’s side.  The timeline to build this new school is 18 months. This is a very good day for the children and all involved in Kolbe Special School.

"I want especially to thank the school management, teachers and staff, parents and everyone involved for all their work and support for this new Special School," The Laois Minister said.

He outlined his own efforts over the years as delay after delay hit the plan.

"I have been in constant contact with Norma Foley TD, since she was appointed Minister for Education.  In that time, I have worked with the school in relation to the design of the new school, with Laois County Council in relation to the planning application and fire certs etc. and I also helped ensure the appeal to An Bord Pleanala which could have delayed this project was withdrawn. 

"I was then involved in ensuring tender documents for the new school were prepared and were submitted in a timely basis to the Department and that ultimately a builder was identified for the project.  Now that the contractor has completed all the details at his end, I have ensured the Letter of Acceptance has been issued by the Department today," Minister Fleming said.

The Kolbe School says it specifically caters for children (age 4-18) within the severe to profound learning disability spectrum and/or autism. There are 41 pupils in the school at present.

The Laois Association of Parents & Friends of the Mentally Handicapped established the service in 1978. The original premises was situated in Portlaoise town and moved to Ballyroan.

In 1983 the services moved from Ballyroan back to Portlaoise to a purpose-built building on the Block Road near Portlaoise hospital.

It was named the Kolbe Centre after the Roman Catholic Priest, Fr Maximilian Kolbe a Polish priest who gave his life in Auschwitz to save the life of another.

The Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary Services became responsible for the Management of Kolbe Centre in 1992 from the Parents and Friends.

Since 2000 the Department of Education and Science became responsible for what was later renamed the Kolbe Special School.