Cork South West Fine Gael Senator Noel O’Donovan has welcomed confirmation that the extension project at SN An Áird, Ardfield National School, has been approved to proceed to construction.

The project, which will provide two new classrooms, has been approved by the Minister for Education, Hildegarde Naughton, to move to construction.

Senator O’Donovan said the approval was a significant milestone for the school community and praised Principal Maeve Beechinor and the wider school team for their work in progressing the project.

‘This is fantastic news for Ardfield National School and a testament to the determination and hard work of the school community in getting this project to this stage.  I want to congratulate Principal Maeve Beechinor and all of the school team on their efforts, and I also want to thank Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton for her support on this project in recent months.'

Senator O’Donovan said he would continue to engage with the Department of Education to ensure the project progresses as smoothly as possible.

He added that there are a number of other schools across West Cork currently working through the various stages of the building process and awaiting approval.

‘While I am delighted to see this project moving forward, I am very conscious that other schools across West Cork are also waiting for their projects to progress. I will continue to raise these projects with the Department and advocate for the investment needed to meet the educational needs of our growing school communities’.