Kilkenny Schools Project Moves to Tendering Stage Amid Uncertainty

Plans for two new multi-storey school buildings in Kilkenny are progressing to the tendering stage, although a completion timeline remains unclear. The Minister for Education and Youth, Helen McEntee, provided this update in response to a parliamentary inquiry from local representative Peter Cleere, TD for Carlow-Kilkenny.

During a recent parliamentary session, Cleere sought clarity on the status of the project, which involves the construction of new facilities for Coláiste Pobail Osraí and Kilkenny City Vocational School. Minister McEntee confirmed that the project has been devolved to the Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board (KCETB) for execution.

Current Project Status and Future Steps

The project is currently at Stage 2b of the architectural process. This phase focuses on detailed design and planning, securing necessary statutory permissions, and preparing the tender documents. Minister McEntee noted, “Once this process is complete, the next stage is tendering for a contractor and then onwards to construction in due course.”

While the next steps are set, the Minister emphasized that at this early stage of the project, it is “not possible” to provide a timeline for its completion. KCETB will maintain communication with the school authority to ensure they are updated on progress.

Community Impact and Expectations

The development of these new educational facilities is expected to play a significant role in addressing the growing demand for post-primary education in Kilkenny. The local community is eager for updates as they anticipate the positive impact these schools will have on students and families.

As the project moves forward, stakeholders will be closely monitoring the tendering process, hoping for timely advancements that will ultimately lead to the construction of the new school buildings.

For ongoing updates and further details on local developments, interested parties are encouraged to stay informed through official announcements from the KCETB and government sources.