€7.2m investment in secondary school

Secondary school pupils from South-East Clare attending a Limerick College will benefit from state-of-the-art facilities inside the new two years, following official sanction for a €7.2 million capital investment project.
Education Minister, Ruairí Quinn has given the green light for a dramatic overhaul of accommodation in St Munchin’s College, Limerick, as well as new sports facilities following over a decade of lobbying, which intensified over the last three years.
At least half of the 540 students attending come from Ardnacrusha, Parteen, Shannon Banks, Meelick and Westbury.
The project is to be carried out on a phased basis, with works due to commence on site early in the new year, following the appointment of a main contractor in January.
The construction contract, which is expected to be awarded to a well-known Clare construction company, is scheduled to take place over a two-and-a-half-year period.
While some of the ambitious plans submitted by the school weren’t funded by the Department of Education, management are still determined they will go ahead.
In fact, a new fundraising committee has been set up to provide additional sporting facilities, including all-weather pitches in front of the school building and the conversion of the old swimming pool into dressing rooms and a gym, costing an estimated €500,000.
The committee, which comprises a number of past pupils, are already considering a number of ideas to generate the necessary finance, while the Diocese of Limerick has agreed to provide some financial assistance.
Acting principal, David Quilter told The Clare Champion he is “hugely excited” by the project, which will be very beneficial to pupils, teachers and staff once it is fully completed.
“The college has a long and proud history. A lot of new facilities are needed to bring the school into the 21st century,” he said.
In addition to the provision of a modern heating system and electrical works, Mr Quilter explained the number of classrooms will increase from 25 to 35.
This would be achieved by refurbishing the third floor and the provision of a new sports hall in phase one, refurbishing the second floor in phase two and the ground floor in the phase three.
Every effort will be made to minimise disruption, as the school will have to continue operating during the construction works. The refurbishment and extension of the school involves the complete internal refurbishment of the three-storey 1960s brick and dash school building, including a change of use of redundant dormitories at the second-floor level. Two contemporary brick-clad stair towers will be constructed at the rear of the school building for fire escape purposes.
A new purpose-built sports hall will be located at the lower level to the rear, linked by an external concrete canopy to a suite of refurbished changing rooms.
The work also includes the relining of all external walls and window and roof replacement to achieve a very high energy rating. Many of the existing parquet floors are being retained, stripped and re-lacquered.
There will be a complete refurbishment of all mechanical and electrical systems to achieve new Department of Education standards. In addition to transforming facilities, refurbishment works will create a new subject for the school, construction Studies.
Welcoming Minister Quinn’s announcement, Limerick East Deputy, Kieran O’Donnell said it is both fitting and timely that the school is now able to carry out long-awaited refurbishment works on the premises.
“It is very important that the students will have a modern sports hall appropriate to the school’s massive sporting tradition.
“St Munchin’s has a long history of education in Limerick and it is entirely fitting that the school is now in a position to embark on such a substantial programme of works, which will enable it to continue providing its high standard of education into the future,” he said.