Delight as refurbished school is opened

A REFURBISHED 147-pupil national school at Faha, outside Killarney, was officially opened yesterday by Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue.

Total cost of the project was just over €400,000.

The pupils and teachers of Faha first moved into the school in December 1994. It then had four classrooms but numbers remained high over the next 15 years and more facilities were required.

Grants were provided for two additional classrooms, a new staff room and offices.

A grant of €240,000 was sanctioned in March 2006, but this fell far short of the sum required to complete the project.

The department approved a further grant of €166,000 to cover the extra costs.

The school serves a vibrant community of around 500 households situated in the centre of a triangle linking Killarney with Milltown and Killorglin.

Faha national school is now fully equipped with interactive whiteboards in every classroom, thanks to the fundraising efforts of an active parents’ association.

There are computers in each classroom and all are networked.

Under principal Pat Foley, the school has eight teachers, including six mainstream and two learning support teachers, three special needs assistants, a part-time secretary, a part-time caretaker, a visiting Spanish teacher and a visiting PE teacher.