The proposal for a new campus for a school in Rush has been approved by the Department of Education and Skills.
The new 13 acre campus for St Joseph’s Secondary School, which is adjacent to St Maur’s GAA Club, is anticipated to be completed in time for the 2023/24 academic year.
Along with a number of new facilities, the development is hoped to house 1,000 students with the potential to increase capacity by one third.
There are currently 848 students enrolled in St Joseph’s Secondary School on a 3.5 acre site.
New facilities and amenities include:
- Four classroom Special Education Suite, including hard and soft play area
- Six science laboratories
- Six specialist rooms including Music/Multimedia; Home Economics; Design and Communication Graphics; Technology; and Art.
- Dining area and catering facility
- School Library
- Six Ball courts located in close proximity to changing rooms
- Full sized grass pitch
- Multi-Use Hall/Changing Rooms located adjacent parking areas and playing pitch, easily secured to facilitate community/out-of-hours uses. (Fingal model)
- PE Hall and Fitness Suite
The new campus will be 2.4 kilometres from the school’s present location in Convent Lane in the centre of the town.
Dr. James Reilly, Chairman of the Board of Management said: “This great achievement is the result of a huge community effort in Rush involving many people.
“I would like to acknowledge the school Principal Patricia Hayden and the members of the school Board who were tireless in their efforts to arrive at this important moment.
“We should acknowledge the collaborative cross-party political support in the area for the project, as well as the former Minister for Education Joe McHugh TD, who we met with last November.
“While we have every reason to celebrate, the work has to begin now and we will continue to engage with all of the community as we embark on the design and construction phase of the new school. But for now, I thank everyone who has been instrumental in arriving at this great place.”
