Work set to begin on €5m Killina school extension

The start of the new school year will also mark the dawn of a new era in the development of Killina Presentation Secondary School, with work on a €5m extension set to get underway in the coming weeks.

The Rahan school has been given the go-ahead to appoint a contractor for the project, which will include two classrooms, two science labs, a textiles room, a home economics room, and a resource centre for students on the autistic spectrum.

The school's principal, John Cotter, told the Offaly Independent the work would take approximately a year to complete, and he was "hoping to have builders on-site at the end of August or the start of September."

While welcoming this "significant" extension, Mr Cotter pointed out that it was just the first part of a two-phase development planned at the school.

"We were sanctioned an extension to the school in 2019, and since then the scope works has changed and improved, there was more added to it, and we had to reappoint a design team which obviously led to a delay.

"The design team was appointed, planning permission was granted, tenders were completed, and the letter we have now received has given us permission to appoint the contractor for the extension to the amount of about €5 million.

"We're delighted that we will now be getting the contractor on site, but what's even better for the school is that the Department did an overall review of the school accommodation subsequent to this and they've agreed that we will have a phase two development once this is competed."

He said the first phase, which will start shortly, will involve a 1,500 sq metre development, while a design team has already been appointed to plan for the second phase, which would be 1,800 sq metres.

The second phase, Mr Cotter said, would include a full-size gym, a graphics room, a technology room, and some other teaching and ancillary space.

When both phases are completed, the school "will really have all of the facilities that are needed," the principal said.

Enrolment at Killina Presentation Secondary School has grown significantly over the last decade. "Next year is my tenth year in the school, and when I started here we had an enrolment of 440. We now have 620 on the books for next year," said Mr Cotter.

He also welcomed work that has been carried out during the summer to develop a new link from Killina to the Grand Canal Greenway, which opened on Monday last.

"Offaly County Council with the cooperation of the Diocese of Meath, has purchased and developed a link walk from the Grand Canal Greenway to the school and the Killina area," said Mr Cotter.

"It means that there is now safe pedestrian or bicycle access from the school to the Greenway. That won't just be of benefit to the school, but to the wider area.

"For those students who are living adjacent to the Grand Canal there is now safe cycling or walking access all the way to the school, without being on the road."

The approval for the first phase of the work at the Killina school was described as a very positive development by Laois Offaly TD, Charlie Flanagan.

"I welcome the news that approval has come through to build the new extension and additional rooms to the existing school structures," the former Justice Minister said on Tuesday.

"Rural schools are the lifeblood of the community and I am delighted that funding has been awarded to meet the needs of the students.

"This announcement is a good news story. However, I am acutely aware that a number of schools in the county are in need of repair and upgrade and I will continue to address these matters with the Minister for Education to ensure that these are progressed," Deputy Flanagan concluded.