The Galway City Council has decided to approve planning permission to accomodate the Knocknacarra Educate Together National School.
The school will initially be housed at a premises beside Aviva Insurance in Knocknacarra once it opens in September, prior to the completion of its permanent residence in a building currently used by Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh.
The planning permission pertains to the refurbishment of the ground floor section of the premises as well as fitting four purpose built classrooms, a learning support room, toilet facilities, and the installation of a new playground.
“It is great that the school has some certainty over its location,” commented Devon Goodwin, member of the Knocknacarra ETNS start-up group. “The committee are very happy with the plans, and work will be getting underway soon which means that the school will be ready in plenty of time for September. The parents are looking forward to making this building attractive and interesting for the first day of school.”
Expressing his delight at the news, the school’s principal Dr Matt Wallen said: “I will be meeting with the engineers responsible for this project soon to ensure that this building is prepared in the most suitable manner possible for our first class of junior infants in September.”
Knocknacarra ETNS is one of five Educate Together Schools to open its doors this year, the others opening in Dublin, Mayo, Meath, and Waterford. These new schools will be multi-denominational, teaching the national curriculum and delivering the Learn Together Ethical Curriculum. Enrolment remains open for junior infants for September 2014 and the coming years, and for further information please visit the school website www.ketns.ie
