Ireland's Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe has opened a new extension in St. Lachteen's National School in Ballykerwick, Donoughmore, Co Cork

The Department of Education provided an all-in-grant of €905,052, which allowed the school to build a PE Hall, computer room, sensory room for pupils with special needs and a staff room.

Opening the new extension, Minister O'Keeffe said: "The new extension will enable the teachers and principal Carl O'Brien to continue their excellent service to the education and learning needs of the pupils here in St. Lachteen's,

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"I am told that the school has a proud tradition in ladies football and that the junior and senior infants along with their parents attend a Sports for Life class assisted by the local Donoughmore GAA club.

"St. Lachteen's is also a participant in the Green Flag initiative and the pupils are actively engaged on a daily basis in the recycling process in the school," said the Minister.

"We're investing over €610m in school buildings this year.

"Seventy-eight projects that have been given the go-ahead to go to tender and construction will be proceeding this year.

"This demonstrates the Government’s commitment to investing in the productive capacity of the economy and to providing schoolchildren and teachers with the best educational environment in which to learn and work," added Mr O'Keeffe.

(PR/JM)