Proposed College Development Plans

The Governing Body is now approaching the completion of the draft stages of the College Development Plan. This has been quite a complex undertaking. The main College Building, MacNamara House, a heritage building, poses difficulties for any alterations. At each side there are the two famous hills and their immediate surrounds are archaeological sites. MacNamara House, the oldest building, is seen by those associated with the College as the heart of the College. The Board, therefore, decided to centre the development of the College with MacNamara House at its core. To this end a feasibility study has been completed. A Board sub-committee, the Development Committee, is reviewing a final draft plan for Board consideration and for consideration by the Vincentian Trustees.

Detailed site surveys have been completed. These have included a full structural assessment of existing buildings and a complete electro-mechanical survey. As a result of these reports, the Board has commissioned a full costing of the necessary works specified. These reports are now completed.

A firm of architects has prepared a feasibility plan on centring the College on the MacNamara/Cregan House axis. Detailed plans and associated costings have been completed. This draft master plan is now the subject of detailed discussions at Board level. A number of modifications have been submitted and further professional advice has been sought.

The Draft Development Plan will present a vision of the College buildings for the next generation. The execution of the plan will take considerable time. The priority is to ensure that the development will not disrupt the ongoing work of the College - those familiar with old buildings will appreciate that their redevelopment may contain some hidden snags. To achieve this objective, the development will be on a phased basis over a number of years

Preliminary negotiations have begun with the Department of Education and Science in relation to approval and grant approval for the building work. Since this work will be a mix of refurbishment and new build, it will be somewhat complicated, and is taking place in less favourable economic circumstances.

The immediate timescale for the development programme is subject to a number of variables e.g. Department of Education and Science approval, planning approval and the overall funding requirement.

The Governing Body intends to put the development plan on display on the College Website - www.castleknockcollege.ie . It will also be on display in the College.
The insurance company have agreed to rebuild the Pavilion, and a builder specializing in this type of work has been appointed. It is hoped work will commence over the Summer holidays.

The following are the members of the 2004 Governing Body of Castleknock College: Mr Donal O'Brien (Chairman), Mr Andrew McGeady (Secretary), Rev. Kevin O'Shea C.M., Rev. Sam Clyne C.M., Mr James Bruen, Mr Brendan Cahill, Mr Martin Cahill, Professor John Carroll, Ms. Marian Kelly,Mr John Mitchell, Mr Frank Robinson , Ms. Mary Wall and Mr Desmond Zaidan. We wish them well in their challenging endeavours.

The School is on target to reach its goal of 600 day students in 2006 when the Boarding School will close. There are currently over 590 students of whom in the region of 110 are boarders.