Kildare and Wicklow ETB Newsletter Issue 9 Inclusion | Page 17

The new School building projects are:

* Coláiste Ráithín, Bray, Co. Wicklow

* St. Philomena’s Primary School, Bray, Co. Wicklow

* Tyndall College, Carlow

* Eureka Secondary School, Kells, Co. Meath

* Loreto College, Wexford

Minister Bruton said: “You can’t achieve a prosperous economy without a fair society, and you can’t support a compassionate society without a strong economy. Investment in education is a prime way to grow our society and economy together. Investing in educating improves human capital, ensuring that all our people have opportunities to achieve their potential, as well as generating wider benefits for our economy. Today I am delighted to be able to announce the awarding of the contract for this key infrastructural project which will provide for over 4,500 school places. Quite apart from the construction of these new school buildings, Inspiredspaces will provide for the day-to-day caretaking, maintenance and cleaning of the school leaving the management and staff of the school with more time to concentrate on their core educational activities. The students of these five schools will benefit from the opportunity to learn in new and improved teaching spaces and modern educational facilities built to a very high standard. The first of these school places is expected to be available in September 2017”.

The Minister went on to thank all the stakeholders involved in the delivery of this project to this point and, in particular, he thanked all the schools involved. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe T.D., said “The signing of contracts for the construction of five new schools represents an important milestone in the Government’s Public Private Partnership (PPP) programme and illustrates our commitment to investment in education. Putting in place long-term arrangements for developing and maintaining these modern and fit-for-purpose facilities will allow school management to focus on the education of the more than 4,500 students who will benefit from these developments. I look forward to seeing the first of these projects coming on line next year."