Offaly County Council Chief Executive Anna Marie Delaney with Cathaoirleach of Birr Municipal District Cllr John Clendennen, and Cllr John Leahy are joined by Birr Municipal District Manager Ann Dillon, Birr Municipal District and Offaly County Council staff, St Kieran’s NS Principal Helena Dunne, St Kieran’s NS Board of Management Chairperson Michael Carroll at the opening of Clár funded improvement works at the school. The works were conducted by Michael Spain, GSS, Mark Moran, Ger Brophy, Alan Kelly, Clement Spain, PJ Grogan and Kevin Spain under the guidance of John Mitchell, Senior Executive Engineer and Joseph Dunican, Assistant Engineer, Birr Municipal District.

Clár funds new car parking facilities at Offaly school

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St Kieran’s National School Broughal, Kilcormac, was the successful recipient of Clár funding thanks to an application made by members and staff of Birr Municipal District and the Roads and Transport Department of Offaly County Council.

Speaking on the first day of the new academic year, Helena Dunne, Principal of St Kieran’s NS, said: “On behalf of the Board of Management of St Kieran’s NS, I wish to acknowledge the efforts of all the staff in Offaly County Council, especially John Mitchell, Birr Municipal District Senior Executive Engineer and his team, who worked tirelessly to provide us with such a top-class car parking facility. The school is most grateful to Birr Municipal District Elected Member, Cllr. John Leahy, who guided us along every step of the way, from applying for Clár funding for the project, to then helping us consult with Offaly County Council in providing for the car park,” added Ms Dunne.

Senior Executive Engineer, John Mitchell explained that the nature of this scheme was to make the road-side car park and footpaths of St. Kieran’s National School safer for pupils, parents, and staff attending the school, and safer for users of the adjacent public road.

The work entailed the creation of a drop-off area, footpaths, and a staff car park.

Pictured at the launch of the Clár funded project works at St Kieran’s NS, Broughal were Offaly County Council Chief Executive, Anna Marie Delaney, Cathaoirleach of Birr Municipal District Cllr John Clendennen, Cllr John Leahy, Birr Municipal District Manager Ann Dillon with Birr Municipal District and Offaly County Council staff along with School Principal Helena Dunne, St Kieran’s NS Staff, Pupils and Board of Management. (Clár funded works visible in the background.)

"I am delighted to confirm the work was undertaken by Birr Municipal District staff and was completed to a remarkably high standard.”

Ann Dillon, Manager of Birr Municipal District and Director of Services with Offaly County Council, said: “Clár funding is a targeted investment programme, tailored to small-scale infrastructural projects in rural areas that have suffered the greatest levels of population decline.

"Offaly County Council staff were delighted to work with St Kieran’s National School and Birr Municipal District members to ensure this project was completed before the new school year began. On behalf of all parties involved, I want to thank the Department of Rural and Community Development for providing funding for this project” added

Cathaoirleach of Birr Municipal District Cllr John Clendennen advised that any local community that has a project that may benefit from funding, to contact their local elected representative who can bring it to the attention of Offaly County Council for future funding consideration.

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