Call for old school building in Kildare to be considered for new special school

The old St Paul's Secondary School building should be considered for the site of a new special school in County Kildare.

The call was made by both Kildare South Fine Gael TD, Minister Martin Heydon, and his party colleague, Monasterevin based county councillor Kevin Duffy.

The pair have called on the Department of Education to consider the former St Paul's School building, which is located in Monasterevin, as the location for a new special school, which is soon to be established in South Kildare.

They said in a joint statement:"The decision to establish a new special school in Kildare South for the school year 2024/2025 was warmly welcomed last week. 

"While it is ambitious to have an entire new school established and ready to take 120 pupils by September next year, we believe that using a location such as the former St Paul's Secondary School in Monasterevin gives the project the best chance of being ready on time."

They continued: "The former St Pauls school building was in use as a school up to Summer 2023 and is set up for education provision. 

"It is in a very accessible location in the town centre with access from other parts of South Kildare through both train and motorway connections.

"In their consideration of different locations around South Kildare, the Department of Education are seeking the optimal location for this much needed special school.

"We are firmly of the view that the former St Paul's building in Monasterevin has the most potential to be turned around in a short time frame into a new school."

The pair concluded their statement by saying: "We are working with our Fine Gael colleague Minister with Responsibility for Special Education, Josepha Madigan, to highlight the benefits of St Paul's as an ideal location for the new school and will continue to advocate for that to ensure the best chance of the school being ready for Kildare students in September 2024."