From the Fingal Independent - The Department of Education and Science last week approved major funding for a new 1,000pupil school building and special needs unit at Donabate Community College.

Following departmental sanctioning, construction work is set to begin in the spring, with the school community expected to take up residence in the building in time for the beginning of the 2011 school year. The department's building unit has since instructed the County Dublin VEC to issue contracts with a contractor and planning permission is expected to be lodged in the coming weeks.

The school first began operating in September 2008 from its current temporary home at Donabate Portrane Community Centre, serving the growing population in the area, and principal Olive Laffoy looked forward to further progress on the project.

' We are delighted to announce that the much-awaited building project for Donabate Community College is now under way,' Ms Laffoy told the Fingal Independent.

'Contracts have now been issued and it is expected that the building programme itself will commence in the spring time.

'Students, parents, teachers and the community at large are very excited that they will finally have their very own second level school on the peninsula.

'The building project should take approximately one year, at which point students of Donabate Community College will leave their temporary accommodation for a permanent new home.' Fears had been raised that the project would be delayed, which had led to an outcry across the peninsula, and news of progress has been warmly welcomed throughout the county.

It's understood a planning application will be lodged with Fingal County Council in mid January, which should be completed by April and assuming all goes to plan, building works will commence on site in by May. The school will continue its multidenominational, coeducational ethos, offering boys and girls from Donabate and Portrane the opportunity to pursue their second-level education together.

- Robin KIELY