“This is a very exciting day” says principal of Moate CS

The Principal of Moate Community School has hailed the news that a long-awaited extension for the 850-student school is to proceed to tender as “a very exciting day.”

Tom Lowry was reacting to a statement from Minister Robert Troy confirming that the extension to the facilities in the Moate school under the Devolved Schools Building Programme 2 is to progress to tender stage, with the appointment of contractors for the project to follow thereafter.

“This is a very welcome statement and a very exciting day for the school,” said Mr Lowry, who added that it has been “a very long process which has been over five years in the planning.”

Moate Community School currently has 850 students, and the proposed extension, which will include a four classroom Special Education Needs unit, is based on a long term projected enrolment of 1,000 students, making it one of the biggest second-level schools outside of Dublin.

“We have a very big catchment area, with 14 feeder primary schools, and despite the very challenging times we are going through, our projected enrolment for next year remains very strong,” said Mr Lowry, who said he is very much looking forward to having building work begin on the school campus.

Moate Community School has 70 teaching staff, and over a dozen additional ancillary staff. Moate Business College is also part of the overall educational offering of the school, where a further 400 students engage in further education.

Moate Community School is one of five secondary schools in Westmeath to be approved for substantial school building projects under the Department’s Devolved Schools Building Programme 2, with the remaining four schools being located in Mullingar (two schools) Rochfortbridge and Castlepollard.

Deputy Troy said “the benefit at each school, through the approved projects, cannot be over-stated, and will have a hugely positive impact on the many, many students, who pass through these schools for years to come. I look forward to each project advancing and becoming a reality as soon as possible.”