Work is ongoing to secure permission for a new building for Donegal’s largest primary school.
Minister Charlie McConalogue says he is liaising closely with the Minister for Education, Norma Foley, to secure approval for Scoil Íosagáin in Buncrana for a new school build.
In a statement, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine said: “Scoil Iosagain is the largest primary school in Donegal with over 750 pupils, and provides top quality education service, both in mainstream and special education. However, the school, which is over 100 years old, is totally in need of a new premises and new facilities.
“A lot of work has been done over the last number of years to ensure that it has proceeded to the final stages of approval for an entire new school building, and planning permission for a new build was granted at the end of 2022 by Donegal County Council.
“I am liaising with my Cabinet colleague and Minister for Education, Norma Foley, to ensure that the final approval and the capital funding sign off for the project to commence to construction will be issued as soon as possible.”
The Minister said he has also liaised closely with the school management on this issue over the last number of years to ensure that it could get to this stage and the plans for the new school are very exciting.
He added “However, we need to see approval given and work commence on site as soon as possible, so that we can have pupils in the new school facilities in the best possible time frame.
“I am hopeful that a decision to proceed to construction will be made imminently and I look forward to having a positive outcome for teachers, pupils and the school community.”