29 May, 2006 - Major extension for Our Lady of Good Counsel Boys National School, Dun Laoghaire

'Government to spend €3million on school extension' - Minister Hanafin

The Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin TD, today unveiled a plaque at Our Lady of Good Counsel Boys National School, Dun Laoghaire to mark the beginning of a major building project at the school.

Speaking at the school today, Minister Hanafin said "I am delighted that the Government is providing over €3million for this major extension and refurbishment of Our Lady of Good Counsel boys school."

The building project at Our Lady of Good Counsel school involves the refurbishment of the existing school, an extension to the general purpose hall and the construction of a new single storey extension consisting of five classrooms.  The project commenced on site in March.

The extension is part of a considerable programme of investment in primary schools in this area.  Other building projects include the new school in Kill O the Grange, the large extension to St. Ann's school in Shankhill and extra classrooms in both Hollypark boys and girls national schools. A new school will be built for Monkstown Educate Together on the site of the Dun Laoire Institute. Other primary schools in the area have benefited through targetted funding for a range of improvements including windows, roofs, and other refurbishing works.

Highlighting the progress made across the School Building Programme, Minister Hanafin said "since 1998 we have witnessed unprecedented investment in school buildings. Between 1998 and 2004 alone, almost €2 billion was invested in school buildings and in the region of 7,500 large and small projects were completed. This year an estimated €500 million will be spent on school building projects and I am delighted that this project is one of them."

ENDS