Green light for building of long-awaited Educate Together school in Douglas

Construction has been approved to begin for a Cork secondary school which has spent ten years in temporary accommodation.

The Cork Educate Together Secondary School will be located the Carrigaline Road in Douglas, near to Maryborough Woods estate and will cater for 600 students in the catchment area.

The school building contract commenced on Friday, with principal Colm O’Connor receiving a letter of acceptance stating that a contractor had been appointed and could now mobilise on site.

The school, which opened in 2016, has spent ten years in temporary accommodation – two years hosted by Nagle Community College and the last eight in Griffith College, despite the Department of Education having bought the Douglas site in 2017.

Mr O’Connor told The Echo: “This is our 11th year in temporary accommodation – the school was sanctioned in 2015 but the need for it would have been identified probably 13 years ago.” 

He said that they have now been granted permission to stay in their Griffith College accommodation until the new building is delivered, after fears that they would have to be out before they had anywhere to move to.

Still, he said they are “anxiously awaiting the delivery” of their new school, adding that in general these builds take around a year and a half to complete.

“I just announced the news in the staff room and there was a big cheer, everyone is very excited that a contractor has been appointed and I’ve been getting messages from parents about the good news.

“We’re excited to have a home, and to be able to develop deep roots in the community.” 

Mr O’Connor said that three groups of students have completed their entire schooling in temporary accommodation outside their catchment area, meaning long travel times.

Local TD for the area and minister of state Jerry Buttimer, who had visited the school, told The Echo: “This is fantastic news.

“After years of waiting, the Department of Education has now formally approved this long-awaited project to proceed to construction.

“I’ve worked closely with the school and the Department to progress this project, and I’m particularly delighted for the students, parents and staff who have waited so patiently.

“The priority now is to get construction underway and deliver the permanent school that this community deserves. The new 600-student school, including dedicated special education classrooms, will be a tremendous addition to Douglas and the wider Cork community.”