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04 Nov 2025
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04 Nov 2025
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Staff and parents of Kolbe Special School (back) with Laois councillors and Minister of State Sean Fleming, at a public meeting to demand their new building. Photo: Leinster Express
A Laois special school that is in dire need of a new building, has welcomed with delight the news that the building is going to construction tender.
A new building for Kolbe Special School in Portlaoise was among projects 58 nationwide that the Government had placed on ice while it reviewed finances in March.
Following a public outcry in Laois by the school and its supporters at a public meeting, that list was binned just before Easter with every school again back on the active building list by the Department of Education.
Kolbe reached another milestone on Wednesday, April 12, with the confirmation by Minister for Education Norma Foley that it has gone to the next stage, seeking tenders for construction.
"We are delighted after receiving offical confirmation that we can finally progress the new school project to tender.
With this wonderful news, the anguish and turmoil of the last number of weeks is finally behind us.
"We now look forward to the progression of the project in the knowledge that our wonderful students are finally getting the recognition they deserve.
"We wish to sincerely thank our students, their families, the community, our public representatives and our staff members for their diligent efforts in advancing our objectives!"
The school teaches 43 children aged 5 to 18 with severe to profound disabilities, in poorly insulated and cramped prefabs and no PE Hall or sensory room due to lack of space.
Below: a gathering at Kolbe Special School last summer. The school has no space inside for gatherings.
They already have a site and planning approval for a new €9 million school.
It will have eight general classrooms, a hall, specialist educational spaces, administration areas, circulation areas, and other ancillary accommodation.
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.
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