The commencement of construction on a new school for Midleton Educate Together National School has been welcomed by Cork East Fine Gael TD and Minister of State at the Department of Justice, David Stanton TD.  The new school will be located on a 2.24 hectare site just outside of Midleton on the Mill Road at Broomfield West.

“I am pleased that building work has begun on the new school which will allow Midleton Educate Together to move from its temporary premises at Market Green to a permanent site.   The new school will have two storeys with 24 classrooms, a PE hall, a 4 classroom special needs unit, resource rooms and other ancillary spaces.  Outside there will also be some sports and other facilities such as ball courts and a bicycle storage area.

“In addition to these buildings and amenities, the project will also include the provision of a new access road and an area to accommodate drop off and collections, 58 new car parking spaces and other site development works”, said Minister Stanton.

“This new school will be the first permanent premises for Midleton Educate Together which first opened in August 2008 in prefabs on the grounds of Midleton Rugby Club.  In addition to the pupils and staff benefitting from state of the art facilities, the new premises will also allow this very successful school to continue to accommodate demand for places and increase enrolment in the coming years.

“This latest school project forms part of a very significant investment by the current and previous Government in primary and secondary education in the East Cork area. At primary level, large extensions have been added to Kilcredan NS, Scartleigh NS in Saleen, Whitegate Mixed NS, Scoil Iosagain in Aghada, St John the Baptist NS and Rushbrooke NS.  A new primary school, Scoil Chliodhna, opened in Carrigtwohill GAA Club last year and Gaelscoil Mhainistir na Corrann opened itsnew 24 classroom school in Baneshane this September.

“Secondary schools have also benefitted with an extension at St Mary’s High School, and a virtually new school for Midleton CBS Secondary School. Construction is also well underway on a major extension at St Colman’s Community College and a new second level school opened last September in Carrigtwohill.

All this investment in education is of huge benefit to the East Cork area and will ensure that schools can continue to provide high quality education and meet demand for places into the future”, concluded Minister Stanton.