A deal to acquire a site for a new 16-room school for Gaelscoil de hÍde, Oranmore, is expected to be concluded in the coming weeks, according to Fine Gael Galway West TD Brian Walsh.
Progress in advancing the development of the new school, which will include a two-class special needs unit with a central activities space, had stalled pending the acquisition of a suitable site in Oranmore.
However Dep Walsh confirmed that the purchase of a site earmarked for its construction was poised to be concluded in a matter of weeks.
“I have been liaising with the Department of Education’s Property Management Site Acquisition Section with a view to progressing this project,” he said. “It is just a matter of processing paperwork before the acquisition is completed.”
The acquisition of a suitable site has been led by Galway County Council on behalf of the Department of Education and the council has now requested updated contracts from the landowner before the transaction is finalised.
The Galway West TD said the purchase of the site was a “major step towards advancing the development of the new school”, which will also be equipped with ancillary accommodation and a general purpose room.
The progress was also welcomed by Fine Gael councillor Liam Carroll, who cleared the way for outline planning permission for the new school to be granted earlier this year when he proposed material contraventions of development plans to allow for the Gaelscoil to be built.
“This is another significant step towards making the new Gaelscoil for Oranmore a reality,” Cllr Carroll said. “When it is completed, the school will form the final piece of a jigsaw that will see a unique education and sports campus located in the centre of the town.”
