The Department of Education has confirmed that the long-delayed redevelopment of Blessington Community College in Co. Wicklow has advanced to tender stage, marking the most significant milestone in a project first announced in 2018 and the first time it has entered the active construction procurement pipeline.

The Irish Independent reported that the new school is planned as a three-storey, 1,000-pupil post-primary facility with six Special Education Needs classes, reflecting national policy on integrating special education provision within mainstream school campuses.

The project is being delivered under the Department of Education's Large Scale Capital Programme, which allows major school builds to be managed locally under Department oversight.

Tánaiste and Wicklow TD Simon Harris welcomed the development, describing it as a hugely significant day for the students, staff, and families of Blessington Community College and for the wider Blessington area. He said the approval to proceed to tender means the project is now moving from the planning stage into the construction pipeline, and that Blessington is one of the fastest-growing communities in Co. Wicklow with a clear and long-standing need for a modern, expanded school.

Harris also described the inclusion of six SEN classes as particularly important, adding that it reflects the Government's commitment to ensuring children with additional needs can access supports in their own community alongside their peers.

Wicklow TD Edward Timmins said the project has been to the fore of his work since entering the Dáil in 2024 and that he has engaged consistently with senior ministers to highlight the urgency of the situation.

Read the full details on the Blessington Community College redevelopment reaching tender stage.