A Laois TD has moved to reassure those concerned by the news surrounding Kolbe Special School in Portlaoise.
Fine Gael TD Charlie Flanagan says he has received assurance from An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and the Minister of State for Special Education, Josepha Madigan, on the matter of Kolbe Special School.
Deputy Flanagan said: “Following reports that the project may be delayed along with 57 other school projects, I had an early meeting with Minister Madigan.
“She assured me that any delays of a technical appraisal will be no more than 4 weeks.”
There is devastation in the Kolbe Special School community, with an update from the Department of Education stating that the development of a new building has been ‘put on hold’.
Planning permission was granted by Laois County Council in February of last year for a new school beside their existing building on the Block Road in Portlaoise.
Permission has been approved for eight general classrooms, a GP hall, specialist educational spaces, administration areas, circulation areas and mini bus drop-off spaces and all necessary external play, sports and educational areas.
However, communication from the Department of Education says that 58 school projects, including Kolbe, are on hold ahead of going to tender.
Meanwhile, a petition to have the new school built without delay has been launched and can be signed here.
