Taoiseach turns sod on new school

An Taoiseach Brian Cowen yesterday (Thursday) turned the sod on a new 550-student post-primary school in Banagher. This marked the start of the construction phase for Banagher College - Coláiste na Sionna, the first of four schools to be built under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. Two of these schools will be in Offaly and two will be in Portlaoise. The Taoiseach was joined at the sod-turning ceremony by the Minister for Education and Science Batt O"Keeffe. Coláiste na Sionna will see the amalgamation of La Sainte Union and St Rynagh"s Community College in Banagher. It will comprise classrooms; a multi media learning laboratory; four science labs; woodwork and engineering rooms and a PE facility with a fitness suite. The new building is designed by A & D Wejchert & Partners and will be built by the Pierse Group. An Taoiseach Brian Cowen said yesterday: 'I am delighted to be here with you this morning to announce the signing of the contract with Macquarie Partnership for Ireland for the first bundle of PPP schools and to turn the sod on the Banagher site. It is great to see all this getting off the ground.' He added that the contractor had already mobilized on site and construction would begin immediately on this school and the three other schools in this bundle. 'I am glad to hear that local contractors will be given an opportunity to secure work on these projects. At its peak, the level of construction employment provided by this bundle will be in the region of 670 jobs, with 170 of those in Banagher. I understand that the Pierse Group is already in negotiations with local suppliers and that they will, where possible, buy their general building materials locally,' said Mr Cowen. 'The Government is, of course, itself investing heavily in the school building programme this year. This is again providing much needed business for the construction industry. It also testifies to the strength of our commitment to the education sector,' he added. He pointed out that the National Competitiveness Council had recently emphasised the key importance of education in our economy. 'We are joined today by the principals of all four schools. We are very much depending on you and your staff to give our young people the best possible education, so that they in turn can help us build a stronger, "smart" economy and better society. I know you will give it your very best,' he said. Mr Cowen said school buildings were important, but good teachers were critical and even when we emerged from this recession we would be facing very intense global competition. 'There will be a premium on critical thinking, innovation and entrepreneurship. So the more bright, inquiring young minds we can develop, the more self-confident, capable and articulate young people we have - the greater the levels of literacy in science and mathematics in particular - the better it will be for our country"s future. In closing, I would like to acknowledge the work of all those who facilitated the amalgamation of La Sainte Union Secondary School and St Rynagh"s Community College. A special word of thanks goes to the National Development Finance Agency, the Vocational Education Committee and Minister O"Keeffe"s Department, for bringing the project to this juncture,' he said. He said he looked forward to the completion of this school and the other three schools in this bundle in September 2010.