Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh in Knocknacarra is to move to a new facility, which will allow for a 50 per cent increase in pupil numbers, following agreements reached this week.
The Gaelscoil will move to a new building due to start construction in 2014. This follows proposals Labour Galway West TD Derek Nolan put to the Department of Education and to Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh, which were accepted by both sides.
Dep Nolan said financial and funding concerns will not arise as the project is already on the Department of Education’s five year capital plan which is fully funded.
“Time delays will be minimal as the project can commence to design and planning as soon as a site is chosen, with construction scheduled for next year,” he said. “It will also further secure the future of the Irish language in the city.”
Dep Nolan added that it was “ good news for the increasing population of Knocknacarra” who will have “greater access to such a successful school and education through the Irish language”.
The development has also been welcomed by Fine Gael TD Brian Walsh.
“There was understandable disquiet last year when the extension of the gaelscoil was omitted from the school building programme at the same time that plans to construct a new primary school in the area were announced,” he said.
Dep Walsh said it would have been “nonsensical” to build a new primary school in Knocknacarra while Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh “continued to operate with more than half of their pupils in temporary accommodation”.
