Work is set to start next month on the renovation and upgrade of a well known historic building in Longford.
The Diocesan building in St Mel's College is the target of a 6 million euro regeneration fund designed to create new facilities for the secondary school.
The building, originally built in 1865, has been partly used for a number of years by the college, with the Diocesan Trust leasing part of the building to the school.
The regeneration project will include 2 Special Needs Classes, 2 General Classrooms, A Home Economics room, A Multi-media/computer room, Science Lab, Music room and a Design/Communications Graphic room.
Enabling works to secure the walls and ceilings of the building will take place in March, before the full construction project goes to tender.
Principal of the College, Malachy Flanagan, says the new facilities will go towards building St Mel's as an educational centre of excellence.
''Work is only in the infancy stages, emergency works had to take place to stabilise the ceilings and the walls. We have developers coming on site and a construction team after St. Patrick's weekend - we are hoping a week or two after that, to really stbailise it before it goes to tender. Fingers crossed everything will be up and running and in place in the next few years.''
