Local Fine Gael Senator, Aisling Dolan, has welcomed planning approval for the construction of a new building at Scoil An Chroí Naofa.
“The planning decision received recently is the next step in a long journey for the teaching staff, pupils, families and board of management.
“The people of Ballinasloe have waited 27 years for a new school building in town. We have excellent teaching staff but an old building which can be freezing in the winter. Now this is the next step to a new school for close to 300 children.
“We have a waiting list for children for school places and especially children with special needs across our national primary schools, both locally and in the wider Midlands region, and it is a truth that we need larger schools with more capacity.
“This school has close to 300 students, a DEIS Level 1 school where families travel from counties Galway, Roscommon and Westmeath to attend. Dedicated and committed teaching staff with Special Education teachers and SNAs however now there is no more space.
“In 1996, the boys and girls national school, my own school, amalgamated with the promise of a new school. Five boards of management committees and five principals worked cohesively to bring this project forward and now we have an important decision with planning permission approved. It will be a fantastic new high spec school building for families in this town,” Senator Dolan enthused.
The Senator acknowledged the work of school principal Christine Connor, the current board of management and patron Bishop Michael Duignan, the design team and the Department of Education, all of whom helped to realise the positive outcome.
This new planning permission is based on a brand new design for a larger school with three additional classrooms for a total of 16 classrooms.
“The confirmed planning decision comes with conditions for the project to progress. I look forward to working with Scoil An Chroí Noafa, the Department of Education and the design team to move this to the next stage meeting the requirements for planning and preparing tender documents for construction. I would also like to thank the council for working pro-actively with the Department of Education to accommodate the new school build.
“This new two storey school build will have a new access road to the side beside the library with safe new pick up and drop off at the back of the building. There will be a new playing pitch and play areas. It really is going to be a fantastic new primary school building.
“This project is a major priority for me and I have spoken often with the Minister for Education Norma Foley and Minister for Special Education & Inclusion Josepha Madigan on the importance of this school,” Senator Dolan added.
Voicing her approval, school principal Christine Connor noted the relevance of such a positive planning decision outcome.
“This is a wonderful day for staff and pupils. This new design has been changed to accommodate 16 mainstream classrooms an increase of three on the previous design in order to meet the increasing demand for school places. It also incorporates a new access road to allow for safe set down and collection areas for pupils as well as staff parking.
“I’d like to thank the design team and our board of management for all their support as well as our patron Bishop Michael Duignan. In addition, our board of management wish to thank the local authority working with our design team and with the commitment of the Department of Education in progressing the project over the last number of months.”
“We look forward to the next phase,” Ms Connor concluded.
