WATCH: 'No more leaking roofs' as Laois special school in Portlaoise has wish answered after 25 years

A wish made at the turn of the millennium is finally about to be granted to the pupils and staff of the Kolbe Centre Special School in Portlaoise, with news that they will move into their new home by Easter.

School Principal Orla Mahon updated the Leinster Express / Laois Live on the status of the multi-million euro development of the school on Portlaoise's Block Road after the Minister for Education, Hildergarde Naughton, visited the school on Friday, February 6.

Watch the video above to hear the update or read more below the photo.  

Pictured is Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton with Sophia and Frank at the Kolbe Special School in Portlaoise. Pic: Maxwells

“Our project is nearly finished. All our documentation has been submitted to Laois County Council for completion to allow the school occupy our new premises. We are hoping that we will be in by Easter.

“We are looking forward to up-to-date facilities that will meet all the needs of all our pupils, where we will have space to cater for all 48 pupils.

“The fantastic bit is that we won't have any leaks in any roofs, and we will all be under the one roof. That's what we are looking forward to the most,” said the principal.

Ms Mahon agreed that it was a dream come true after a long campaign that began with a wish expressed to the Department of Education in the year 2000.

“I have been here since we opened on March 1, 2000. Shortly after we opened, we were asked to issue a wish list to the Department of Education on what a new school would look like, and finally, I can say I am now going tosee that new school,” she said.

The Kolbe Schoocaters for children (age 4-18) within the severe to profound learning disability spectrum and/or autism. 

Its roots are in the 1970s, with its establishment by the Laois Association of Parents & Friends of the Mentally Handicapped 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.

The Department of Education and Science has been responsible for its operation since 2000.