Plans prepared to expand new Laois school in Portlaoise

Minister Norma Foley cut the ribbon on the new school in 2022. Pic: Alf Harvey

placeholder image — Minister Norma Foley cut the ribbon on the new school in 2022. Pic: Alf Harvey

Portlaoise school was known to be too small when it opened in 2021

The planning process to expand a Laois school in Portlaoise is underway just over three years after construction was completed on the new building.

Laois County Council has received documents from St Francis Special School in Portlaoise for the expansion plans at the Borris Road building.

The school's management has told the local authority that the development will consist of a new two-storey extension comprising four classrooms, specialist rooms, toilets, stores and associated ancillary accommodation. The development of the school for children with special educational needs also includes the provision of a new soft play external area, landscaped external areas and all associated site works.

The new school was built on the site of a former boys' national school in Portlaoise which was demolished to make way for St Francis. Funded by the Department of Education, the completion date was been pushed out several times. It was first promised to be ready in September 2018 as a Rapid Build project by the Department of Education. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Covid-19 delayed the opening of the 12-classroom building until June 2021. It was recognised prior to completion that the new build would not be big enough to meet the demand for places. The green light for new schools was given as as soon as the building work was completed two years ago.

The principal John Moran told the Leinster Express / Laois Live in 2022 that a jump in pupil numbers forced an urgent requirement of a new extension. He said 89 pupils were enrolled in June 2021 but this rose to 121 by the start of the new school year in September. The school received approval in April 2022 to expand.

The latest Department of Education figures show that 117 children attend St Francis 84 are boys and 33 are girls.

The school was previously located in a cramped and poorly insulated flat-roofed building on Portlaoise's Timahoe Road. Parents campaigned intensively for the new school for many years. Portlaoise Parish gave the site for the new school, which was previously the home of St Paul's NS.

The new planning application was submitted to the Council on September 17 but was deemed incomplete.