Cllr Frankie Keena

At this month’s meeting of Westmeath VEC, Mr. Gearoid O’Bradaigh read correspondence dated January 2009 from the Public Private Partnership Unit in the Department of Education & Science regarding a new school for Athlone Community College. It was stated that Athlone Community College is included in a bundle of seven schools for PPP and that a special meeting for all stakeholders will be held in the College on the 3rd February 2009 at 4pm to brief them on the process. Stakeholders include parents, teachers, administrative staff and VEC members etc. In welcoming the news Westmeath VEC member Cllr. Frankie Keena who is also on the Board of Management of Athlone Community College said that so far this is a good news story, particularly in the present economic climate that we are experiencing. He thanked the Government for continuing their capitol expenditure programme. It is very important that there are no delays from our end and that everything is in order so that we are ready to move when the Department requires us to, he said. We need to be on top of our brief with regard to specifications and planning issues, he concluded.