Loreto College in Dublin has celebrated the opening of its refurbished dining hall, following a £55,000 construction scheme backed by the Department of Education.

Schools Minister Batt O'Keeffe was on-hand to officially launched the revamped canteen facility on Crumlin Road.

The college received funding under the Dormant Accounts Scheme for the refurbishment project.

Two outdoor basketball courts were also upgraded using a further grant of €20,000 under the scheme.

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The Dormant Accounts Scheme invests money from long-forgotten bank accounts in worthwhile community projects.

Minister O'Keeffe said: "I'm delighted to open the new dining hall in Loreto College.

"Earlier this year, I awarded Loreto College €320,000 under the Summer Works Scheme to renovate the school's two science laboratories.

"And last month, I called for applications from schools under the 2010 Summer Works Scheme last month, with a special focus on funding for water conservation measures."

Since 2004, over 4,000 small-scale building projects have been carried out in schools at a cost of almost €380m.

Mr O'Keeffe said his department's Summer Works Scheme for next year will generate much-needed employment in the construction sector in these challenging times for the country.

(PR/KMcA)