Kildare County Council to write to Bishop and Department of Education over former school site

Kildare County Council (KCC) will write to both the Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin and Department of Education in relation to a former school site.

The subject of the former school land, which ceased hosting staff and students of St Paul's Secondary School back in 2023, was raised by Social Democrats councillor Pat Balfe at the latest Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District meeting, which took place on Wednesday, November 19 last.

At this meeting, Cllr Balfe submitted a motion calling for KCC to "write to the Kildare and Leighlin Trust, and / or the Department of Education, to enquire as to the status of the old St Paul’s Secondary School, Monasterevin, and to outline its current position regarding the ownership and future use of the school buildings and lands".

His motion was seconded by Sinn Féin Cllr Noel Connolly.

Cllr Balfe also told the attendees of the meeting that he was seeking the support of the other councillors in relation to his motion.

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In response to the motion, KCC said via the report it presented at the meeting that this would be a matter for the members to agree upon.

Cllr Connolly also told the members that he had previously raised the subject of the former school lands around two years ago, and was told to contact the Bishop of Carlow.

"It might be worth amending the motion to say that KCC should write to the Bishop," he added.

This amendment was agreed upon by the members following Cllr Connolly's suggestion.

After the matter was put to a brief vote, the members agreed that KCC should write to the Bishop of Carlow, Denis Nulty, in addition to the Department of Education.

Social Democrats Cllr Pat Balfe. File photograph

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Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.