Special educational needs soft play area and sensory garden sought for school in County Kildare

An enclosed special educational needs soft play area, in addition to a sensory garden, is being sought for a Catholic school in Naas.

Planning permission documents lodged with Kildare County Council (KCC) show that the Board of Management of Mercy Convent Primary School intends to construct the development on the school's grounds.

Specifically, the Board intends to incorporate the soft play area and garden to the north of the new building.

The Board is also seeking permission for the addition of three new car parking spaces to the staff car park, to the south of the existing two-storey 1900 building on the site.

These changes are modifications to the existing planning permission (KCC Reg. Ref. 13/50052), according to the documents lodged with KCC.

The date received is listed as September 6, while the submission-by and due dates are listed as October 10 and October 31 respectively.

According to the school's official website, The Mercy Convent Primary School was founded in 1839 by the Mercy Order of nuns.

The website also says: "We are committed to the Mercy Philosophy of Education, inspired by the vision of Catherine McAuley.

"Our school is a Catholic primary school under the Patronage of Most Rev. Denis Nulty, the Catholic Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin.

"The School is a full stream school which is co-educational in Junior and Senior Infants, and single sex (girls) from First to Sixth Class."