St. Mary’s goes mobile during building work

Environment Minister Mark H Durkan has granted planning permission for a range of temporary mobile classrooms in the grounds of St Patrick’s College.

This will facilitate the transfer of pupils from the nearby St Mary’s Primary School site later this year to allow work to commence on a new school approved last year at the St .Mary’s site.

Planning approval for the new St Mary’s Primary School with an estimated investment of over £5 million was granted in November 2013 and entails the demolition of the existing school premises in Reilly Park.

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“This decision is good news for the teachers, parents and pupils of St Mary’s Primary School and positive news for Banbridge,” said Mr Durkan.

“When the temporary mobile classrooms are put in place, this will pave the way for construction of the new purpose-built modern school building that will benefit the area for many years to come.

Banbridge Councillor Brendan Curran has welcomed the announcement by the Minister.

“This decision means that the new school build announced earlier this year by Education Minister John O’Dowd can proceed as planned,” said Mr Curran.

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“Our appreciation and thanks has to go to the management team at St Patricks for their willingness to accommodate the pupils from St Marys and for the work and effort they have put into ensuring that pupil disruption is kept to a minimum.”

It is estimated that the new-build comprising a fourteen classroom school and nursery unit will take two and a half years to complete, with around 50-100 jobs created in the construction phase.