Still no start date for work to begin on new north Wicklow school building
The Wicklow PeopleEducation Minister Hildegarde Naughton is not able to provide a timeline on when construction works will start on a new building for North Wicklow Educate Together Secondary School (NWETSS).
The project is being delivered as part of Phase 2 of the ADAPT Programme. Following a parliamentary question from Social Democrats TD for Wicklow Jennifer Whitmore, Minister Naughton indicated that as of late 2025, her department was in the process of appointing project teams—including architects and engineers—to lead the architectural planning, tendering, and construction phases.
As a result, it is not possible to confirm the progression of the project to tender and construction stages until such time as the necessary statutory approvals have been secured.
She further highlighted that contracts for the land at Fassaroe have been signed. However, the final acquisition is conditional on securing planning permission for both the school and the adjacent residential development. Construction of the school is inter-dependent with the provision of local housing infrastructure.
A site assessment of the school’s current Ravenswell location in Bray is currently taking place, to determine its suitability as their permanent home. The announcement marked long-awaited progress for the school community, following years of uncertainty after the previously earmarked Fassaroe site failed to materialise.
The Department’s site assessment is examining whether the existing buildings at Ravenswell can be reconfigured and expanded, or if a full rebuild would be required. The findings will determine whether the site can become the school’s permanent home.
The school was first opened in 2016 in temporary premises in the old Presentation College School on Putland Road in Bray and has been searching for a permanent home ever since then.
Their current school has had a lot of work done to improve the facilities but still the children have no PE facilities on site, while the current size of the school at just under 400 pupils is nowhere near to meeting the demand.
In 2021 alone close to €6 million was spent on temporary accommodation for the school.
In December 2024 the Board of Management of NWETSS brought the ongoing situation regarding the provision of a new school building to the attention of local councillors, in the context of the review of the existing plan and preparation of the Bray Municipal District Local Area Plan 2025.
Among the issues raised was the lack of proper supports for those living with additional needs.
“As an inclusive school catering for a diverse student body the current layout of the school means it is not accessible for all students, with stepped approaches to all rooms. This limits the school’s ability to accept students who are unable to navigate these barriers. Students with temporary disabilities are unable to return to school until they can navigate steps confidently.
“The sensory load that the current building puts on neuro diverse students and staff is impossible to mitigate due to the age and layout of the building. With over 50pc of our population being neuro diverse this inappropriate and unnecessary barrier is having an real on their ability to access the curriculum.”
The submission also suggests the present site of the school, while currently inadequate, may provide an opportunity for redevelopment.
“In terms of planning, sustainable development and transport it is worthy of serious consideration as it accessible by all modes of transport. Currently 77pc of our student population, walk/cycle or use public transport to get to school.”
The school also highlighted the planning application for a substantial housing development in the area which was subsequently refused planning by An Coimisiún Pleanála in July 2025.
The national planning body rejected an application by Cosgrave Property Group for permission to construct some 241 houses and 409 apartments, plus a creche, on a 78.5-hectare site off Berryfield Lane. Among the reasons given were the uncertainty over public transport services and concerns that the development would result in urban sprawl.
The board of management had raised concerns about what impact the plans would have had on the timeline for the building of the school. Despite being refused, the school believes there is still a need that “proper and timely provision is made for the necessary infrastructure to ensure that sustainable public transport is in place and that facilities for active travel such as cycling and walking are prioritised as well.”
In 2019-20 the school was involved in advanced discussions with the Department of Education about a co-location project with Bray Institute of Further Education (BIFE) which would have provided for new buildings for both BIFE and NWETSS on the current site.
The Department had employed consultants to look at the feasibility of the site. However, the school never received any explanation, either oral or written, of the reasons why the project was seemingly shelved.
Minister Naughton has confirmed, after the project manager was appointed in Q3 2023, they are now in the process of preparing documentation for the tender process for the appointment of a project team for the Phase 2 bundle of projects.