Cavan/Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD Margaret Conlon has confirmed that the plan to move Castleblayney College on to one campus is now closer to becoming a reality.

Deputy Conlon has been in discussions with the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills Mary Coughlan TD to secure approval for the long awaited development.

“Following lengthy negotiations, I am delighted to report significant progress in relation to the Castleblayney College project.  I have discussed the plans at length with the Tánaiste Mary Coughlan, and she agreed with the pressing need to move the school onto a single campus for safety reasons above all else.

“The Planning and Building Unit of the Department of Education and Skills has now completed its examination of the latest designs for the new campus. A few small issues have been identified which must be resolved before the plans can go to tender.

“A meeting has been scheduled for two weeks time to facilitate a speedy resolution on the outstanding issues. I am hopeful that this will be a quick and simple process. After the meeting on March 1^st, the project can advance to the next stage which is the preparation of detailed design to open the tender process. At this point, we can secure a definite timeline for construction.

“It has been a long and difficult road for the teachers, parents and students of Castleblayney College. I appreciate the difficulties they have faced working with unsuitable facilities for the past number of years. Great credit is due to the Principal Gerry Hand and the CEO of Monaghan VEC Martin O’Brien who, along with their staff and members of the community, have campaigned tirelessly for approval of this development. I am happy to have worked with them and I am delighted that we have made some progress.

“I will continue to work to ensure that this project progresses quickly, so that we can provide an optimum learning environment for the students of Castleblayney College,” concluded Deputy Conlon.