St. Francis Special School News

St. Francis Special School New Building Sub-Committee

14/02/2019

A few committee members of the St Francis Special School New Building Sub-Committee visited the site of the new St Francis Special School as the build progresses last week.  The committee was delighted with the progress being made and have great hopes that September 2019 will be achievable in terms of moving into the new building and usher in a new era for our children with additional needs in Laois.  A school building that the students can be truly proud to be a part of.

Also visiting the site with the sub-committee on the day was St. Francis Special School Principal Malachy McNulty who was also delighted with the progress being made.

Left to right: Ed Shanahan, Michael Gorman (Committee Chair), Geraldine Shanahan (Committee Secretary), Caroline Senior, Sinead Coss

As chairman of the St. Francis Special School New Building Sub-Committee I would like to thank our secretary Geraldine Shanahan, who did a sterling job as secretary of our committee.  All the committee members who went as far as to publicly tell their own stories in their efforts to get a new State of the Art School for their children, a very brave thing to do.

Huge thanks need go to Portlaoise Parish for donating the site for the school, which brought the whole project so much closer to fruition.  Thanks also to those in the political arena around the county from all parties and Independents who put their shoulder to the wheel when requested to do so.

It was with great pride that the New Building Sub-Committee oversaw the progress of the new build, which made all the hard work done by the committee so worthwhile.

Given the great progress observed on our visit to the site, the St. Francis Special School New Building Sub-Committee has decided to disband, in the knowledge that we have achieved all our goals, and children with additional needs in Laois are now being treated more equitably in terms of being taught in a building fit for purpose, just like those in mainstream education.

Left to Right: Ed Shanahan, Geraldine Shanahan (Committee Secretary), Caroline Senior, Sinead Coss, Malachy McNulty (School Principal)

However, we have great sympathy and support for Kolbe Special School who are still battling for their right to be taught in a building fit for purpose.

On a personal note, I would like to thank all those who gave me, as chair of the committee, their fulsome support throughout the battle for a new school for the students of St. Francis Special School.

Yours sincerely

Michael Gorman

Chairperson of the now defunct St. Francis Special School New Build Sub-Committee.