The Donegal Education Training Board has moved to explain why a walkway adjacent to Finn Valley College in Stranorlar will be forced to close for the remainder of the year.
The issue of the walkway has featured at meetings of the Stranorlar Municipal District Council and in the local press recently.
The closure of the walkway comes in conjunction with a major extension being constructed at Finn Valley College that will enable the provision of five new specialist rooms that will address the requirements for students with Special Educational Needs.
The expansion will also see the provision of three additional general classrooms needed to accommodate the growing student numbers at the College.
The ETB said the school is looking forward to welcoming and continuing to provide an excellent education to the more than 430 students who have enrolled in Finn Valley College for the coming academic year 2024/25.
An ETB spokesperson today explained the reasons why the walkway has been closed.
The spokesperson explained “Expert advice received from both independent Health and Safety advisers, and from the Health and Safety team of the Contractors appointed to build the new school extension currently under construction at the Finn Valley College site, is that opening the walkway to the public during the construction work for the school extension would be unsafe from a health and safety perspective.
“The health and safety of students, staff, contractors and the public is a responsibility which Donegal ETB takes extremely seriously and is of paramount importance to the organisation.
“It would be negligent of Donegal ETB to disregard the clear conclusions and advice of health and safety experts in relation to this matter.”
IN a statement, the Donegal ETB and Donegal County Council stressed they are committed to working together to ensure that the walkway will be opened to the public at the earliest possible opportunity.
To that end, discussions are ongoing between the parties to seek to facilitate a joint approach to the works required for the school project as well as the works required to open the walkway.
“The good news is that the walkway will open to the public once the work is completed at the Finn Valley College site and following completion of the necessary works by Donegal County Council.
“From discussions with the contractors, the current estimated timescale is to have the walkway opened during the early part of 2025 with an approximate nine-month work plan for completion of the Finn Valley College works,” added the spokesperson.
Ms Anne McHugh, Chief Executive, Donegal ETB, in welcoming recent developments stated: “Donegal ETB greatly appreciates the patience of the public while the required construction works take place, and we are confident that the community of the Finn Valley will join us in looking forward to the completion of both of these important infrastructural enhancements.”