Education Minister Hildegarde Naughton will face calls to address school building needs as she visits Donegal today.
The Fine Gael Minister is due to visit Saint Eunan’s College in Letterkenny, Mulroy College in Milford and Scoil Mhuire, Milford, where she will meet school leaders, students and local representatives campaigning for major building upgrades.
Minister Naughton today said she is “deeply conscious” of the need to ensure schools are equipped to meet growing communities and evolving educational priorities.
At St Eunan’s College, the Minister is expected to hear directly about the all-boys school’s 30-year extension battle.
The school had a major setback in January when it was left out of the first tranche of a €7.55bn national schools investment programme for 2026-30. That is despite the school having planning permission for a 37-classroom extension, that approval is due to expire in March 2027 if funding is not secured.
“The story of Saint Eunan’s College is one of resilience, vision and progress, and the school continues to build on its proud tradition while looking confidently to the future,” said the Minister ahead of today’s engagements.
At Mulroy College, which has seen enrolment more than double in the past decade, the school said it welcomed the opportunity to outline its “areas of immediate need.”
“Mulroy College and its Board of Management remain fully committed to advancing plans to improve our existing building facilities and to progressing our approved additional accommodation project,” the school said.
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The Minister plans to speak directly with the sixth-year students of Mulroy College as they prepare to take their Leaving Certificate examinations.
Speaking in advance of the visit, Minister Naughton said: “I want to acknowledge the inclusive nature of this school, which has welcomed students from many backgrounds. That commitment to inclusion, support and care is something that is truly valued and commended.”
The Minister will also visit Scoil Mhuire Milford against the backdrop of calls for a new school building. Concerns have been raised over toilets, classroom space, the lack of a green play area and road safety outside the school.
For years, the school community has been campaigning for a new building to ensure children in Milford can learn and develop in a safe environment.
Minister Naughton has said the Milford primary school’s achievements reflect a community that is active, caring and ambitious for its pupils.
The Minister added: “It is my pleasure to visit Milford to meet with such a committed, energetic and proud school community.”