Brendan Smith T.D. has welcomed the confirmation he has received from the Department of Education and Skills that Stage 2(b) planning and design for the Holy Family School building project has been approved which now enables the tender process to commence.

“I welcome this development and I have asked the Minister and the Department to ensure that no further delays occur and that construction stage be reached as quickly as possible. There is an urgent need to provide modern and permanent accommodation with up to date facilities for this school which provides an excellent service to so many children throughout Cavan and Monaghan.

I had renewed my appeal again to the Minister for Education and Skills through Parliamentary Questions in Dáil Éireann last week to have the final documentation approved in respect of this major building project which would enable the tendering process to commence and allow construction to get underway.

Minister Bruton in his reply to my Parliamentary Question stated that on the finalisation of the assessment of suitably qualified contractors and Stage 2(b) documentation, his Department would then revert to the school with a time frame to proceed to tender and construction stage.

I am hopeful that, at last, this project will proceed to construction stage without further delay and I compliment the Principal and her staff colleagues, successive Boards of Management and Parents’ Associations on their work in trying to move this project forward. There is an urgent need to have proper and modern accommodation provided for this school, which provides excellent services for children from all over Cavan/Monaghan”.