‘Great news’ as funding approved for Leitrim primary school extension
Funding has been approved for two new SEN classrooms at St Brigid's NS, Drumcong, with local representatives saying the extension is urgently needed.
Funding has been granted for an extension to St Brigid’s National School in Drumcong, which will provide two new Special Educational Needs (SEN) classrooms.
The announcement was made by Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton TD under the Additional Accommodation Scheme, which ensures that essential classroom accommodation is available to cater for the number of pupils enrolled in a school.
The allocation has been warmly welcomed by members of the school community and local representatives, following ongoing efforts by the Board of Management to secure the additional facilities.
Cllr Enda McGloin described the allocation as “great news,” adding, “it’s something that the Board of Management in particular were leading out on and they were anxious to get the green light on this.”
The extension comes in response to growing demand as pupil numbers continue to increase and the need for additional SEN provision grows.
“Locally I know there is a strong demand from students and parents for this facility so I’m glad to see the allocation going for them and hopefully they can progress to planning as quickly as possible,” said Cllr McGloin, adding that it could be 2027 before the new classrooms are ready.
He said representations had also been made by a number of parents and that the announcement had come at “a good time.”
“There is an ever increasing demand from parents for SEN rooms and there is a good level of pupil levels in Drumcong.”
Like many areas across the county, the local population is growing, he said, and with it the school population.
“Thankfully there’s a good vibrant population base in that area so this is required,” he concluded.
St Brigid’s NS Parents Association also welcomed the announcement on social media, posting on Facebook: “Well done to everyone involved that made this happen. Great news for our school.”
The funding has also been welcomed by Minister of State Frank Feighan, who said: “This is great news for the School Principal and the Board of Management alongside the pupils and their parents, and I want to congratulate the team involved in the application.”
The exact amount of funding awarded will be withheld while a competitive tendering process takes place.
“At a political level I want to thank Minister Naughton for this allocation of funding, I had received representations from the Board of Management, and I am delighted that the Minister engaged with me on this critical extension for the school,” concluded Minister Feighan.