4 extra classrooms and a woodwork room approved for Bunclody Vocational College- Minister Kehoe

MINISTER PAUL KEHOE TD has welcomed an announcement from Minister of Education, Ruairi Quinn TD has approved the construction of four new classrooms and a woodwork room at Bunclody Vocational College.

Speaking following the announcement, Minister Paul Kehoe said:

“I am delighted that the Department of Education has approved additional funding for accommodation at the Bunclody Vocational College. I have been urging the Department of Education to approve this work since the school made their original application”.

Accommodation approved by the Department of Education at Bunclody Vocational College includes 4 x 49m2 Mainstream Classroom – 1 x 136m2 Construction Studies/Woodwork Room, Increase Metalwork Room to 135m2 and 35m2 Toilet Facilities.

Minister Kehoe thanked those in Bunclody involved in the application;

“I commend school Principal James Murphy for the excellent case that he presented to the Department on behalf of the school. I would also like to thank local Cllr Kathleen Codd Nolan who is the Chair of the Board of Management at the school for making representations to me emphasising the importance of these extra classrooms.

“I have visited the school and met Principal James Murphy and some of the classrooms were in very poor condition and unsuitable for teaching. There were also health and safety concerns about the size of some of the classrooms in the school.

“The construction of these classrooms is a significant development for Bunclody Vocational College as the last permanent classrooms were constructed at the school in 1989.

“Bunclody Vocational College is a DEIS school, this means it educates the vast majority of children who come from disadvantaged homes in Bunclody. So it is vitally important that they are provided with the best possible facilities and learning environment.

“Despite the current period of austerity this government has committed to investing in our education infrastructure by building new schools and classrooms across County Wexford in the coming years. This week the Department has also approved emergency mechanical works at Scoil Eoin Baiste, Galbally“.