Kerry Education and Training Board (Kerry ETB) and the staff and students of Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí were delighted to welcome the Minister for Education and Skills, Joe McHugh TD, to turn the sod for the site enabling works at the site of the Gaelcholaiste Chairraí’s Campas Nua in Ballymullen in Tralee on Thursday 2nd May. The Minister was warmly greeted by Príomhoide Ruairí Ó Cinnéide, Deputy Principal Conall Ó Cruadhlaoich, students, staff, parents and members of the Board of Management.
Ruairí Ó Cinnéide, Principal of Gaelcholaiste Chirarraí thanked the Minister for his support of the project and thanked Kerry Education and Training Board (Kerry ETB), Kerry County Council, Lee Strand and the Mitchels Regeneration Group for their support in ensuring that Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí new campus is progressing at a steady pace.
Ruairí Ó Cinnéide stated “We are all very excited that Minister McHugh came to turn the sod for the site enabling works on our new campus today. The new campus will ensure that Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí’s students will, in the not too distant future, be moving into a new state of the art building. The new building is being built for 600 students and will feature 25 general classrooms, specialist classrooms, a library, multimedia labs, canteen and dining areas, a sports hall and the cultúrlann performance area. This will add greatly to the excellent standard of teaching and learning that currently exist and will afford students a broader curriculum and with further educational opportunities. We hope the Minister will return in 18 months or so to officially open the new building”.
Director of Schools, Youth and Music, Ms. Ann O’Dwyer was delighted with the Minister presence on such an auspicious occasion as this. “Today marks the beginning of a wonderful future for Education through the medium of Irish in Tralee. This school will serve the students of Tralee and its hinterland who wish to be educated through Irish in a modern campus focusing on 21st century teaching and learning.
The CEO of Kerry ETB Mr. Colm McEvoy said “Kerry ETB are delighted to host the visit of the Minister of Education and Skills to Kerry ETB at a time when a number of key projects have reached a significant milestone with the opening of the Kerry College Clash Campus, Denny Street Campus, the Turning of the sod for the site enabling works for the Gaelcholaiste Chiarraí Campas Nua and the opening of the extension at Coláiste Gleann Lí.
I wish to thank the Minister and his officials at the Department of Education and Skills for their continued support for Kerry ETB. These projects are representative of the ongoing commitment of Kerry ETB to enhance the working and learning environment for our staff, students/learners. Kerry ETB has an extensive range of provision across the county including primary, post primary and further education. In addition, I wish to thank SOLAS for their ongoing support for our Further Education and Training programmes.”
If you have any further queries please do not hesitate in contacting motoole@kerryetb.ie
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