Work begins on €1 million Youth and Family Centre for Tuam

CONSTRUCTION has started on a new Tuam Youth and Family Centre on the site of the old Mercy primary school on Dublin Road which is set to become an innovative flagship project for the town.

The development has been worked on for three years and is being led by the St Vincent de Paul, which has committed money through its Maureen O’Connell fund.

The economic value of the development with the renovation works is estimated at just over €1 million. Planning permission was granted last year and the charity is delighted that the building work has finally begun.

The two main anchor tenants will be Tuam-based services of Youth Work Ireland Galway (including Treo Nua, the Garda Youth Diversion Programme) and the former Tuam Family Services of the HSE, now the Child and Family Agency.

The old school and its large site will be completely transformed during the extension and rennovation project which is expected to take about six months to complete.

SVP West Region President Pat Kielty told The Tuam Herald, 'We are delighted to see the work starting on the new centre. We view the development of the building as a great opportunity to provide a friendly and welcoming venue for young people to participate in youth programmes and for families to access much-needed services.'

Read more in this week's paper or in our digital edition April 24