Council to write to Minister over delays to education campus in this Kildare town

Kildare County Council is to write to the Minister for Education seeking a meeting on the progress of the three-school education campus at Donaghcumper in Celbridge.

The move follows motions by Cllr Lumi Panaite Fahey (FG) and Cllr Claire O'Rourke (SD) at a meeting of Celbridge-Leixlip municipal district held on Friday, June 20 2025.

The MD heard that all three schools – St Raphael's, Celbridge Community School and St Patrick's National School – are currently all in a “dilapidated state."

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Cllr Panaite Fahey told the meeting that while she was grateful for the council's response, and she realised that perhaps the local authority does not have “much say in the matter”, nevertheless there were “massive concerns” about the three schools.

The population of Celbridge was ever-increasing, she pointed out, and there was a dire need for completion of the school campus project.

Cllr Panaite Fahey said it is now “looking like 2030” when the campus will open, and while she accepted that KCC might be limited in its powers, she wondered if there was any way the council could help expedite the project.

Cllr O'Rourke said there was difficulty determining where the design process was in relation to the school campus, and it would appear from the council's report that it is still in the development phase.

She pointed out that St Patrick's NS is in a particularly poor condition, and has been housed in temporary accommodation for the past 17 years, with the existing building “not fit for purpose.”

Cllr O'Rourke said there appeared to be no urgency on the project, and asked what could be done to progress the matter with the Department of Education.

Also speaking on the motion, Cllr Rupert Heather (LAB) said he had previously raised a similar motion, and it was his understanding that the project is now approaching the planning stage, “which is good news.”

He wasn't sure, he said, whether councillors could have an influence over projects such as this with regard to timelines, but all three schools are in “a dilapidated state.”

While he was “sceptical” about what actions councillors could take, he believed they should be taking any measures they possibly can.

An extensive report issued by the council included the statement that: “school delivery is a matter for the Department of Education and not Kildare County Council”, and that any requests for project updates and/or timeline “should be directed to the Department.”

The report noted that the NDFA, however, “has and will continue to engage directly with the school authorities to keep them informed of progress on this important project.”

It was subsequently agreed by the municipal district to write to the Minister for Education requesting an urgent meeting in relation to the Celbridge education campus.