Galway schools get go ahead creating up to 200 building jobs

Merlin College Post Primary School and Merlin Woods Primary School are now scheduled to be open in 2014 on a shared greenfield site in Doughiska. The secondary school will be built to accommodate 650 mixed students in a building over 7,000 sq m with general teaching classrooms, specialist workshops and PE hall. The new national school will be built take in 450 mixed pupils over 2,600 sq m with hard play courts for recreation.

The schools are two of eight capital projects nationally that will benefit from a €50 million loan from the EIB, which will allow them to be delivered under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.

Fine Gael TD Brian Walsh said the provision of finance from the EIB was a strong signal of renewed confidence amongst international investors in the Irish State and its economic recovery.

“There has been rapid population growth east of the city in recent years and the announcement that these schools can finally progress to construction will make a huge difference for families in the area,” he said.

“Planning in respect of these projects was finalised earlier this year and funding was the last remaining piece in the jigsaw. Now that finance has been secured, the way is clear for construction to begin immediately.”