By Dan Walsh
The new 1,000 pupil replacement school in Wexford town for Selskar College and a new eight-classroom school for Educate Together National School will be located on a 16-acre site at a location between Whitford House Hotel and the Clonard Road.
Chief Executive of Waterford and Wexford Education Training Board (WWETB), Kevin Lewis said that he was delighted that a new primary school will be adjacent to the post-primary school and that this will create a quality education campus for Wexford town. Further good news is that a four-classroom Special Education Needs unit will be provided for the post-primary school and a two-classroom Special Education Needs unit will be provided for the primary school.
Cllr Leonard Kelly, Mayor of Wexford, who is also a current member of the Board of Management of Selskar College, and former member of the Board of Management of Wexford Educate Together said; As a parent of school going children, resident of the town and someone who works with schools in various capacities I know that this announcement is an absolute game changer for Primary and Post Primary Education in Wexford town. Education is the key to reducing inequality in our society, and by creating this education campus in town we will help to strengthen our community by ensuring that our children are given the best opportunity to be educated in state of the art facilities in their own town.”
Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy, Chairperson of WWETB Board said: “I am delighted that the site for our new second level school for Wexford town has been announced by the Minister for Education and Skills, Norma Foley T.D. I hope that the plans for our new school will get planning approval in a timely manner, and that we can proceed with this building project and provide this much needed education facility for the people of Wexford as soon as possible.”
Dr Emer Nowlan, CEO of Educate Together haswelcomed the announcement and said that “Wexford Educate Together National School has gone from strength to strength since its establishment in 2008. This new school building will provide the school with a permanent home and enable it to thrive and grow to meet the increasing demand for equality-based education in Wexford town.”
WWETB Director of Schools Eimear Ryan added that she was“delighted with the location of the proposed site and the plans for a campus arrangement with the Educate Together Primary School. WWETB will continue to progress the project as quickly as possible and I remain optimistic that some of the students currently enrolled in Selskar College will finish their post-primary education in this brand-new partnership school. After many years of discussion and work by so many people, it is great to see our vision become a reality.”
Principal of Selskar College, Denise Lennon Hennessy said this will offer the community of Wexford greater choice in an easily accessible location and provide a school community with the opportunity to create a centre of excellence in both academia and sport.
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