*Photograph: John Mangan
Minister for Education Norma Foley (FF) will meet with Clare TD Cathal Crowe (FF) to discuss the finer details of amalgamating Ennistymon schools.
Applications for planning permission, fire cert, disability access cert and the preparation of tender documents are currently being compiled as part of the detailed design of the building project.
A review of this work is to be completed by the Department of Education with officials to liaise with the Board of Management regarding progressing to project to tender and construction.
Deputy Crowe in a statement to The Clare Echo stressed the need to secure funding for the works. “This long-awaited project is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning but we need to keep the shoulder to the wheel now and ensure we get the funding sanctioned and get it over the line”.
Assurance will be sought by Minister Foley from Crowe during their meeting this week. “I’ve held a meeting with the Ennistymon principals, as well as my colleagues Councillors Shane Talty and Joe Killeen, to discuss it and it’s clear that this will be a major transition for the town of Ennistymon. The town has come on hugely in recent years and this will help take it to the next level”.
“For more than 30 years now, Ennistymon has been dealt too many false dawns on this issue and I hope now that we see a positive announcement this time around and bring this essential project to fruition,” the Meelick native stated.
