CMETB – Delivering Excellence in Education

Pictured at Ballybay Community College L-R: Cllr. Colm Carthy (CMETB Chairperson), Rosie Croarkin (Principal, Ballybay Community College) and Dr Fiona McGrath (Chief Executive, CMETB)

CMETB are progressing their building projects to deliver additional infrastructure at schools and learning facilities across counties Cavan and Monaghan. Last year Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB) announced its plans for significant investment in the region to deliver additional infrastructure at schools and learning facilities across the region.Recently, CMETB Chairperson, Colm Carthy with CMETB Chief Executive, Dr Fiona McGrath visited sites to view progress ahead of students returning to school in September.

At present, CMETB are delivering €120 million investment in the Cavan/Monaghan region across second level schools, further education and training and the ETB is also assisting in the delivery of primary schools’ projects. Much of the investment targeting ETB-run second level schools will be to cater for students with special education needs. Speaking about the investment Colm Carthy (Chairperson, CMETB) said:
“In recent years, investment in education throughout Cavan and Monaghan has been the goal of CMETB; the ETB has fostered strong relationships with the Department and educational providers in both counties. Seeing first-hand the current projects coming to fruition and knowing the significant plans in place over the coming months and years, makes me extremely proud of the work that has been done and instils great confidence for the future of education in Cavan and Monaghan.”

At Virginia College, a multi-storey extension with nine classrooms will be added, alongside a Special Education Needs (SEN) unit and two Special Education Teacher (SET) rooms. Three science labs with preparation areas will also be built. The project is currently in design phase and temporary accommodation is expected to be delivered to cater for students while construction works take place.Major extensions are also planned at Breifne College, Cavan town and Coláiste Dún an Rí in Kingscourt, where SEN facilities are already in existence. The plans are to cater for predicted increases in overall pupil enrolments at both schools in the coming years, with “extensive preparations” taking place for Coláiste Dún an Rí, where the hope is to build 14 additional large classrooms (30 pupil capacity) and seven smaller rooms (20 pupils). The proposed extension will also incorporate an additional art room, two engineering rooms, two construction rooms, a DCG room, an additional home economics room and pastoral care and guidance facilities. At Breifne College, the ETB is seeking to provide 26 large classrooms and 10 small classrooms, as well as a range of specialist rooms, ranging from music to multi-media, textiles and technical graphics, art, home economics, engineering and technology.

At Inver College in Carrickmacross, funding has been granted for a major extension and building upgrade works which include two SET rooms, five general classrooms and three specialist rooms.
Meanwhile, Castleblayney College is set to receive an extension and building upgrade works which incorporates three SEN base classrooms, with two withdrawal classrooms, one central activities space, a multi-sensory room, one para-educational room, a practical room, a daily living skills area and office space. The works will also see the refurbishment of the school’s existing science labs.

As part of current extension works, Ballybay Community College is set to receive two general classrooms and one science lab. Beech Hill College in Monaghan is set to get six large classrooms and three smaller, two science labs, one multi-media room, a woodwork room and SEN facilities. The ETB is working to deliver temporary accomodation at the school which is expected to be delivered in Q4 of this year.

In Cavan, investment has been granted for St Bricin’s College, Belturbet to provide a modular unit to cater for the current needs of the school. This project is currently at design stage. Specialist works were also completed recently to carry out repairs to the roof at the school. Funding has also recently been granted for new toilets. In St Mogue’s College in Bawnboy, sanction has been granted for modular accommodation to provide four specialist rooms in curriculum areas of Art, Music, Science and Woodwork, as well as one SET room.

In Carrickmacross, progress is ongoing to address accommodation concerns regarding the Youthreach facility in the town where a request for funding was submitted and approved by the department. CMETB are moving forward to secure a lease in Carrickmacross and works will commence to prepare the building for teaching and learning.

Dr Fiona McGrath, (Chief Executive, CMETB) said, “CMETB’s mission is to lead and deliver excellence in education and training for all and the scale of work and projects currently ongoing within the region highlights the ambitions of CMETB, as a leader in education, always seeking how best to serve the learners of today and tomorrow. This work represents significant capital investment but also an investment in the future of the many learners in the Cavan/Monaghan region that it will directly benefit.”

At Cavan Institute, an application for a new campus building has been submitted to the Department. Meanwhile CMETB are progressing to deliver modular accommodation which will facilitate the continuation of high-quality teaching and learning at the Institute. The modular units on site will encompass a sports therapy room, an arts room, a recording studio, gym, six performance rooms, a theory classroom, a drawing room, nail technology room, computer room and science lab, as well as canteen facilities, to be provided.

Finally, ETB has its handprint on a number of external school construction projects. Several involve developments for primary schools or gaelscoileanna in Monaghan – Gaelscoil Eois in Clones, Scoil Mhuire in Rockcorry, Gaelscoil Lorgan in Castleblayney, which is progressing to tender, and plans at Edenmore NS at Emyvale and Doohalmet NS.

There are other agreements in the pipeline which involved the ETB assisting in advancing sports facilities for Monaghan Collegiate School and the Royal School in Cavan.
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