The contract for a major school building project in Co Clare has been authorised.

News that the major work at Barefield Mixed National School is to proceed was revealed by the Fianna Fail T.D. for Clare, Tony Killeen, who is also a Minister of State.

He received confirmation from the Department of Education and Science of its decision to approve the work and stated that the Department would shortly be authorising the school to issue the Letter of Acceptance for the extension and refurbishment work.

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"The Barefield National School project was one of 43 projects announced on 12 February 2009 by Minister for Education and Science, Batt O'Keeffe.

"The brief for extension and refurbishment work will bring the school up to a sixteen-classroom school, with a GP hall and ancillary accommodation," he said.

He continued: "For some time there has been a clear need for the extension of Barefield National School.

"Barefield's close proximity to Ennis means that it has experienced a significant increase in its population.

"This increase has inevitably put pressure on class sizes at the local National School.

"The provision of additional accommodation will alleviate this problem and ensure that the education needs of Barefield are catered for well into the future."

(BMcC/GK)