Another completion date passes at Curraghmore NS's new home

(Above) Curraghmore NS/Holy Family School's new home on the Ardmore Road.

Another completion date for Curraghmore/Holy Family School's new home on the Ardmore Road has been missed.

Work on the €5m school, which is two years behind schedule, was due to be completed by July 5. However, the latest progress report has revealed that there is still some mechanical and electrical work to be completed, as well as other works such as landscaping and tarmacadam surfacing.

While no new completion date was given in the report, it states that the project is 97 per cent complete.

One piece of good news included in the report was that the school can start to fit out the classrooms in the south wing from July 13 and in the east block from July 27.

The report says that next month's fit outs “will minimise the time needed for the school to move into the building once it is fully completed and ensure it is ready for occupation for the coming academic year”.

“...There continues to be a very close engagement between Westmeath County Council and its design team, the Department of Education and Skills and the contractor in relation to getting the remaining elements of work completed during the summer to enable the school reopen for the coming school year,” the report says.

In a post on its Facebook Page, Still No School, the Holy Family NS Action Group said that while there were some “glimmers of hope”, it was “very frustrated” by the progress report.

“The building will not be handed over on July 5...yet another completion date missed! In fact it looks like there are still a lot of unknowns.”

Speaking recently, the school's principal Michael Molloy said that the long wait for the school is taking its toll.

“Everyone is exhausted with this saga and if it’s not wrapped up in coming weeks, it will be highlighted even further as a national shambles.”