Tánaiste and Labour TD for Dublin West, Joan Burton, was in Hansfield today (Friday) to turn the sod on a new Educate Together secondary school. She was joined by school principal Bernie Judge and Secretary General of the Department of Education, Seán Ó Foghlu among others at the ceremony.

The school opened in interim accommodation in September 2014, and work commenced on a new three storey school building in November.

The Tánaiste said: “This is a really exciting and ambitious project for the local school community. We will see the construction of a new three storey school building to cater for a thousand pupils.

“The new building will involve a Special Needs Unit, and the works will include new car parking, drainage, site lighting, play areas and ball courts.

“The school is just four months in existence, so it’s very encouraging that so much work has already been completed on the new building.

“Hansfield is one of many schools benefitting from an investment by this Government of ■2 billion in school building projects, between 2012 and 2016. This is proof of the Labour Party’s determination to ensuring we have modern and state of the art education facilities, particularly for new and growing areas of population such as Dublin West.

“I really look forward to coming back in just over a year for the official opening of the school.”

The project is due to be completed in April/May 2016.