A building contractor has been appointed to construct a new school for Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh on a site adjacent to Millar’s Lane pitches and off the Western Distributor Road.
The contractor was apppointed by the Department of Education and Skills, and brings to an end a long campaign by the Board of Management, parents committee, teachers, and staff to have a new building to cater for the needs of the expanding school population. Work is expected to begin shortly.
The school began life in temporary accommodation in Monalee Manor and The Links before moving into its present location in An Cimín Mór. However prefabs had to be provided for the increased student enrolment, leading to demands for a new building.
Initially, planning permission was granted for an extension to the existing school building in Cimín Mór but the proposed development was not included in the Department of Education Schools Building Programme. At the time the school carried out an extensive campaign to be included, and when that did not materalise, it undertook a new campaign to have a new building constructed on a new site.
A site was selected and a planning application was lodged with Galway City Council, with planning permission granted in 2015.
The development has been welcomed by Independent Galway City West councillor Donal Lyons. Cllr Lyons, who has supported the school's effort to securing additional accommodation, described it as "fantastic news".
"Teachers and pupils can look forward to a new school building next year," he said. "I want to thank Brendan McGrath, chief executive Galway City Council and officials at the Planning Department who were actively involved in the process of nominating possible school sites and the granting of permission for the development as well as the members of Galway City Council who agreed to a change of zoning on the site."
