Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher along with Constituency colleague Deputy Pearse Doherty have welcomed the Department of Education grant approval of €150,000 for improvement works at Scoil Adhamhnain, Luinneach in Derrybeg.
Previously both Deputies Gallagher and Doherty had raised the matter in the Dáil and highlighted the urgent need for funding for works at the school.
They say the matter has been dragging on within the department for some time and it was due to be raised again next week in the Dail by the Donegal Deputies.
The Deputies stated this is welcome news for the school staff, Board of Management, parents and the broader community of Scoil Adhamhnain in Luinneach – who have been campaigning for some time for these works to be sanctioned.
The grant approved by the Department will cover the costs of the works on the school building. The school authority will now need to put in place the necessary approvals in order for the work to be carried out.
The Department of Education have confirmed that the documentation submitted has been examined by the Department’s Professional and Technical Teams, based on their recommendation approval is hereby granted to extend the GP Room which will remove the main source of dampness and provide a more suitably sized GP room for a six teacher school. The necessary roof repairs should also be undertaken as part of these works.
The Department is hereby approving an all in grant of €150,000.00 to carry out all these works any budget overrun will be the responsibility of the Board of Management.
Pat the Cope said “Late last year both of us had a joint delegation to the Minister for Education and the Department officials on the matter of this school and how urgent support was needed in the school for structural improvements.
“In addition, we met with the school authorities and staff while visiting the school on a number of occasions. It is anticipated the works approved by the Department will commence as soon as the necessary final approvals are in place and the matter has been finalised with the planning authority in terms of the works to be undertaken,” he said.
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In conclusion, both deputies stated that this grant approval will bring Scoil Adhamhnain in Luinneach, Derrybeg to the standards one would expect of a modern day school and this is to be welcomed.
“We continue to liaise with the Department in order to ensure the funding is made available without delay to the school Board of Management,” they added.
