Ongoing delay of Celbridge Campus Project slammed by Kildare North TD

Sinn Féin TD for North Kildare, Réada Cronin, has slammed the ongoing delay of the Celbridge Campus Project, which would see St. Patrick’s National School, Celbridge Community School and St. Raphael’s Special School awarded with long-overdue facilities.

St. Patrick’s National School has been waiting on new school buildings for more than 18 years. The Department recently revealed to Deputy Cronin through a Parliamentary Question that the building is at Stage 2a (the developed design stage).

This involves the Design Team “developing the designs, fully cost planning the campus project and preparing the necessary documentation to facilitate the lodging for statutory approval to Kildare County Council as part of the Stage 2b process.”

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Deputy Cronin said: “The ongoing delay to the Celbridge Campus project is simply unacceptable. We have heard for years about the poor facilities in these schools and their desperate need for new buildings.

“Parents have been in touch with me recently on the shocking conditions of St. Patrick’s National school, citing unsafe flooring, leaks, damp, mould, rodents, and problems with fire doors in the building.

“This is inexcusable and is no place for child nor teacher to spend half their day in. It is having massive consequences on the learning environment of both the pupils and the staff. 18 years is far too long to be waiting for essential infrastructure such as a school campus, especially given the condition St. Patrick’s building is currently in.”

Deputy Cronin said that the fact that the project is only at Stage 2a, the developed design stage, “beggars belief.”

She said the government needs to commit to building the campus as soons as possible, or if not, provide adequate temporary buildings for St Patrick's School “immediately.”

Deputy Cronin continued: “The delay in the opening of this campus is also exacerbating the issue of waiting lists for primary and secondary schools.

“While many are on a waiting list in the constituency, I am sure schools like Celbridge Community School would happily open their doors to more students than they currently have, but lack of facilities is holding them back from doing so.

“Parents of children without a school place for September will be worrying night and day about this.

“And it will only get worse with the continued growth of North Kildare in the future unless further investment is made by the Department into school facilities now, and over the coming years.”