Two school buildings in Athenry, Co Galway, have been approved to proceed to construction under the Department of Education’s Large Scale Capital Programme, as reported by the Irish Independent, a milestone that matters to building and architecture professionals because it moves two large new-build schemes towards construction.

The Department of Education is the funding body, and the Irish Independent reported that the approvals follow more than 20 years of waiting for improved facilities.

The Irish Independent reported that the new Coláiste an Eachréidh building will accommodate 450 pupils with three special education needs classrooms, while Gaelscoil Riada’s building will have 16 mainstream classrooms and two special education needs classrooms.

Sinn Féin TD Louis O’Hara said, according to the Irish Independent, that construction is expected to take two years.

Fianna Fáil TD Albert Dolan said when welcoming the decision, as reported by the Irish Independent: “Athenry is one of the fastest-growing towns in the west of Ireland, and investment in educational infrastructure must keep pace with that growth.”

The structural driver is the national schools programme, with the Government’s published list of 105 projects naming both Athenry schemes among large-scale new buildings due to progress to tender and construction over 2026 and 2027.

For the sector, the timing matters because Galway Bay FM reported on 29 October that the Department confirmed the milestone and that Minister Seán Canney expects construction to begin early in 2027.

Midwest Radio reported that approval to tender meant a contractor would be appointed, with a Letter of Intent followed by a 14-day standstill period before the Department issues its Letter of Acceptance.

The broader implication for the sector is that Midwest Radio’s description of a single Athenry Campus project suggests one procurement route for both buildings, which could shape bidding interest in the site.

Source: Irish Independent / Galway Bay FM / Midwest Radio / Government of Ireland