“Just do it”: McCormack tells Dáil it’s time to move Clara school project forward

Fianna Fáil TD for Laois–Offaly Tony McCormack has again called for urgent progress on the long-delayed new building for Ard Scoil Chiaráin Naofa in Clara, saying that while he welcomed the project’s advancement to Stage 2A of the Department of Education’s design process, it must now “move along quickly.”

Speaking in the Dáil this week, Deputy McCormack said he has been pursuing this project for years — through multiple parliamentary questions, letters to the Department, discussions with the school principal, and by raising it in the Dáil on three separate occasions.

He said he recently received a reply from the Minister for Education confirming that the project is now at Stage 2A, which involves the detailed design stage of the school building process — developing the final architectural plans, engineering drawings, and costings before moving to tender and construction.

“This is something I’ve been pushing for since I was elected — and even before that, when I sat on the Board of Management in Ard Scoil Chiaráin Naofa,” Deputy McCormack said.

“I’ve raised it several times, written to the Department, and met with the principal to keep it on the agenda. I welcome that it has now reached Stage 2A, but progress has been painfully slow. The people of Clara have waited long enough. In the famous words of a shoe company — just do it.”

The project, being delivered by the Laois–Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB), will provide a modern new school for 400 pupils along with a four-classroom special education unit.

Deputy McCormack said the need is clear and urgent: “Every year that passes means another generation of students going through outdated and unsuitable facilities. The teachers and students are doing their best, but they deserve far better. We’ve had reports and reviews — now we need action.”

Local Cllr Frank Moran backed Deputy McCormack’s call, saying the community is “fed up with red tape and delays,” while MEP Barry Cowen has also been supporting efforts to move the project forward.

Deputy McCormack concluded: “The plans are ready, the need is obvious, and the community has waited long enough. It’s time to stop talking and start building.”