Positive progress report on new building for Mayo Special School

A Mayo TD has welcomed confirmation that the procurement process for the engagement of design team services for a new school building at St. Brid's Special School, Castlebar, will commence as early as February.

It is expected the procurement process will issue invitations to tender for a design team service shortly and a design team to be in place before by quarter three of this year.

The announcement was made by Josepha Madigan, Minister for Special Education and Inclusion, during her visit to the school today.

Deputy Dillon said: “This major project will include the demolition of the existing school buildings, the construction of a new special school building, and associated works.

"It will include eight classrooms on the existing site at Pavillion Road, Castlebar”.

It will be delivered under the department's ADAPT programme.

ADAPT is an acronym for the "Accelerated Delivery of Architectural Planning and Tendering".

The ADAPT programme uses a professional external project manager to co-ordinate and drive the design team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of architectural planning, to tender and construction.

The project manager has visited the school and initial site surveys were carried out at the school site in Castlebar.

Deputy Dillon said this is very positive news for St Brid’s, its principal Thomas Jones, students, teachers, staff and the board of management.

During her visit to Mayo Minister Madigan undertook a number of engagements in what was her second visit to the county on the invitation of Deputy Dillon.

She held a stakeholder engagement with representatives from schools and groups involved in the education of children with special needs.

She also visited Newport National School where she met staff and pupils while viewing the classrooms and saw first-hand the integration of ASD students.

The minister also attended the school assembly where she was addressed by school principal Eóin Browne and board of management chairman Joe McGovern.

Deputy Dillon said: “It was a pleasure to host Minister Madigan over the past two days. I am deeply passionate about supporting the provision of special education across this county”.

‘In September 2021, Minister Madigan accompanied me on a visit to St Brid’s to see first-hand the need for additional accommodation and upgrades to the existing school building.

‘I welcome the progress for the school and look forward to it being completed in the near future.”