One of the positive things from the Celtic Tiger era is that so many new schools – both secondary and primary – have been built all around the country.
At secondary school level there aren’t that many students in Laois that aren’t now in relatively new buildings.
But there’s always exceptions – and Coláiste Íosagáin in Portarlington is one. The building that has been their home for a long number of years (it was the girls school prior to the amalgamation) is long since past its sell-by date – and the area is crying out for a new facility to serve its secondary school.
Currently a new build for Coláiste Íosagáin is at Stage 1 of 6 (preliminary design) with the Department of Education and local independent TD Cathal Berry says it’s an immediate priority to progress the project as quickly as possible.
“It’s where I repeated my own LC in 2009 so I’ve a bias towards it and I’ve no problem admitting that,” he told LaoisToday recently at the official opening of the SOLAS Eco Garden Centre in Portarlington.
While it’s a slow progress, he’s glad that it is in motion.
“Our intention is to nudge and shove it along over the summer from Stage 1 to Stage 2 (the planning permission stage).
“If we can get that over the line this summer, we can get the ball rolling on it.
“I’ve had a number of one to one meetings with Minister for Education Norma Foley. We’re on very good terms and I find her very constructive and very approachable and it’s certainly on our radar now.
“From my perspective and our team in Portarlington it’s absolutely our number one priority.”
SEE ALSO – Check out all the previous Love Laois articles here
