Laois school given green light for three extensions

Scoil Phadraig Naofa in Mountmellick reapplied to Laois County Council for planning permission which had expired

A Laois school that re-applied for planning permission to construct three new extensions and re-organise an existing car park have been given the green light for the development.

Scoil Phadraig Naofa in Mountmellick had previously applied for the development in 2019, and had been granted permission at the time.

The planning permission for the €3.5 million project that was granted in 2019 is not yet expired, but will be by the end of November 2024.

Pictured: Scoil Phadraig Naofa, Mountmellick

The Mountmellick school applied to Laois County Council to construct a single storey extension to the front/ northeast of the school.

This extension is planned to contain a 'home school liaison room', one new classroom, one new resource room and administration accommodation.

The second construction will be is a single storey extension to the side/southeast of the school. It will contain two new resource rooms and an accessible WC.

Pictured: The proposed extensions to the school.

The final extension will be to the rear/ southwest of the school, containing two new classrooms.

The proposed works also include the removal of an existing single storey outbuilding to the front/northeast of the school, along with minor alterations to the existing school. The school have applied to re-organise the existing car-parking area to the northeast of the school.

No changes are proposed in this new re-application, and the development is to remain as per the previously granted permission in 2019.

Pictured: the proposed elevation and extension to the northeast of the school.

The new extension is designed by the same architects who did an extension for the girls' school, Fitzgibbon McGinley.

Further information was requested by the local authority in relation to car parking requirements and a revised site layout plan was requested. The applicant was also asked to submit a design for surface water drainage.

Planning was granted by Laois County Council with twelve conditions attached on March 5, 2025.