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School build to go ahead despite architect liquidation

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THE development of a new school building for Ennis National School is unlikely to be delayed by the collapse of architectural firm Murray O’Laoire and construction company Keco.

It was announced last Friday that the Limerick-based leading architects had gone into liquidation with the loss of almost 130 jobs, while Keco Construction went into receivership at the start of the month.
Murray O’Laoire Architects had the contract to design the new €6.7 million Ennis National School building, to be located in Ashline, while Keco Construction had been hired by the Clare Diocesan Trust to carry out site works with a view to the diocese handing over a fully serviced site to the Department of Education.
Fears were raised this week that the collapse of both firms would result in a delay in works starting on the new school building, which could impact on a grant allocation from the department for the build.
However, speaking on behalf of the board of management of Ennis National School this week, Larry Brennan, said the situation is in hand and that they were confident that the building project would be not be affected.
“Keco had started works on the site prior to their collapse at the start of March. They had been hired by the diocesan trust to prepare the site, with a view to giving the Department of Education a serviced site. The diocese has since had to come up with an alternative contractor, which they have done. Cotter Plant Hire are now in the process of completing site works and they are due to be completed by next week,” Mr Brennan explained.
In relation to Murray O’Laoire, Mr Brennan confirmed that they had secured the contract to design the new 32-classroom Ennis National School. “We have been told that a provisional liquidator is being appointed to deal with the company this Wednesday, with a permanent liquidator to be appointed on April 9. We very much regret the collapse of Murray O’Laoire as they were a very good company to work with and we had established a very strong working relationship with them,” he commented.
He explained that the board of management has been in consultation with the department and there are a number of proposals on the table with regard to the commencement of the design phase of the building project.
“We are not in a position to name any of the potential new architects, as that will be the responsibility of the appointed liquidator. However, the new design team will take up where Murray O’Laoire left off. They were at a final stage in the design. While we regret that they will no longer be involved in the building project, we must emphasise that the designers are only one part of the design team. The engineers and quantity surveyor are still in place,” Mr Brennan said.
He further added that the board of management does not envisage this matter causing a delay in the building of the new school. “There is also no question of Ennis National School losing its grant allocation. Work on the new building is due to commence next September, with an expected completion date of September 2011. We are working with the Department of Education to achieve that timeframe. We have previously overcome all obstacles in relation to progressing towards a new building for Ennis National School and we will overcome this one too. We have reassured all concerned of this,” he added.
He said that the building of the school would create employment for approximately 60 people at different stages of the project.

 

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