The new Gaelscoil de hÍde at Oranmore has taken a major step towards becoming a reality after contracts were signed for the purchase of a site.
The acquisition of land for the school finally cleared the way for the project to advance. The purchase of the site was the main stumbling block in delaying the new building.
Gaelscoil de hÍde was included in the Department of Education’s five-year building programme last March and it was envisaged that construction would commence on the project in 2015.
The proposed new school will be a 16-classroom national school, with a two-class special needs unit, and ancillary accommodation with a general purpose room.
The developers are now in the process of signing the contracts and it is expected this will be completed by March 16. Outline planning permission has already been granted.
The next step is the design stage and an application for full planning permission.
Gaelscoil de hÍde currently has almost 300 pupils and 20 staff, all of whom are housed in temporary accommodation with no playground space or other resource facilities. The cost of renting the pre-fab accommodation amounts to €200,000 a year.
The news has been welcomed by Galway West TDs Independent Noel Grealish and Fine Gael’s Brian Walsh.
The acquisition of the site for the new school has cleared the way for development to be fast-tracked,” said Dep Walsh. “I have made this case directly to the Minister for Education.”
