New school under construction at Bawnmore in New Ross. Pic: Jim Campbell
THE CONSTRUCTION Company building the new amalgamated primary school campus in New Ross has confirmed to the Echo there is no issue with the project, or with the company, and that everything is going ahead on schedule.
Within hours of last Thursday night’s New Ross Municipal District meeting in the Tholsel, the Echo was tipped off that ‘issues had arisen’ with the company involved in the project, Sammon Group Ltd., and that a receiver had been appointed casting doubt about whether or not the school would open this year.
When contacted by this newspaper late on Thursday night the New Ross District Director, Eamonn Hore, confirmed that he too had heard the company ‘might be in trouble’ but the exact details were unknown.
However, the following day the Echo contacted the company and a senior staff member refuted any notion that issues had arisen and said such ‘malicious’ rumours were completely unfounded.
A spokesperson for the company then issued the following statement to this newspaper: “Further to my earlier discussions with Miceál Sammon, CEO of the Sammon Group, I would like to confirm that there is absolutely no truth to this malicious rumour which has clearly been released to cause our organisation negative publicity. The Sammon Group would like to assure you that we are currently fully on-programme for the completion of the New Ross Schools Project in Castlemoyle, as per our contract with the Department Of Education and Skills.
We hope that this communication clarifies this issue for you fully and that there are no further concerns relating to our status.”
Mr. Hore welcomed the statement and said hearing such a forthright response from the company was very reassuring.
“I am delighted to hear such a positive and forthright response from the Sammon Group to firmly scotch the rumours circulating last week about certain difficulties affecting the company,” he said.
“This is indeed great news for New Ross, the Schools Project, and not least the Sammon Group,” he added.
“I would like to wish the Sammon Group well and look forward to the much anticipated opening of the town’s new school.”
The new multi-million Euro complex is due to open in time for the beginning of the school term in September and will see the amalgamation of the CBS, St. Joseph’s and Michael Street Boys national schools.
