Council demands answers on Laois school 'scandal' 

AN ABANDONED half-built school for children with special needs was described as “absolutely scandalous” at a council meeting.

Laois Co Council has agreed to write to the Department of Education to demand urgent answers regarding Saplings Special School in Graiguecullen, where construction suddenly stopped two years ago.

Weeds and bushes are growing around the deserted building in Fruithill, while teachers and children are still based in a community centre and prefabs in Killeshin village and families are left in limbo.

The county council has agreed to write to the department to seek an update on funding and progress regarding the new school for Saplings, which has about 30 students aged four to 18 with autism and complex needs, six teachers and 17 special needs assistants.

The council decision follows a proposal by Cllr Ben Brennan (Ind), who sought an urgent update at the latest Graiguecullen/Portarlington Municipal District (MD) meeting.

Cllr Brennan said: “It’s absolutely scandalous the way it is left now. If it is left any longer, it should be knocked down. We have nothing only a shell. I’d like to know what the government is doing.” 

Ground works and construction of the new 1,200sq.m school began in March 2023 but stopped later that year. The site has remained idle ever since.

Main funding was provided by the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) handled by the Department of Justice but that programme has closed, leaving Saplings only half-built.

The IIP scheme allowed international investors to donate money to developments such as schools and other public buildings, in return for visas. Saplings managed to get its application through and approved before the programme closed.

As construction of the new school was funded through foreign investment and private donations, Cllr Brennan asked whether funding had run out and whether the government was going to step in. He understood that the cost of construction would rise to about €5m as a result of the delay.

He said: “Everybody is talking about it and wants to know what is going on. I’m glad this letter is going in to the department and I hope we will get a response soon.” 

Describing the abandoned building as “an eyesore”, Cllr Aisling Moran (Ind) agreed and said: “We need answers. If there wasn’t enough money, why was it approved? Was it that they didn’t get the visas to finish it? If that scheme was agreed, why didn’t the government stick to it? Children are suffering because of this.” 

MD administrator Therese Kelly confirmed that correspondence regarding councillors’ queries would be sent to the Department of Education following the council meeting.