New school sanctioned for Gaelscoil na Laochra in Birr

BIRR'S Gaelscoil na Laochra is poised to move to a new permanent home with the news that the Department of Education has sanctioned a new school building. Planning permission for the new building was granted on May 10th by the planners in Offaly County Council.

Under a new procurement framework, set out by the Department of Education, works on the new building will begin soon and will provide a state-of-the-art building and a new permanent home for the school’s current students and staff.

The news was warmly welcomed by the school’s Príomhoide Niamh Uí Chléirigh, who acknowledged the trojan work undertaken by the patron body An Foras Patrúnachta and the school's Board of Management over the past few years.

“I am looking forward to seeing the development take shape in the coming months. Phase 1 of the school will include fantastic facilities such as four new mainstream classrooms, accommodation for a special class, sensory room, a library, a kitchen for students to develop life skills, a sensory garden and much more. Phase two of the project will include a general purpose room for our school community.

“We are delighted for our current students, our future students, our parents and teaching staff as we look forward to this new era for our school,” she enthused.

Gaelscoil na Laochra has been in temporary accommodation since it opened its doors in 2015 and is currently based in Sandymount Haven.

When it opened, it was the first multi denominational, co-educational school in Offaly. The patronage and ethos of the school was chosen by the people of Birr and its surrounding areas following a consultation process by the Department of Education. A new school was promised; however, no physical school building had materialised.

John Carroll, Chairperson of the Board of Management has expressed his delight at the news. "We are jubilant today after hearing the news about the planning permission. It is a huge step for Gaelscoil na Laochra and for the community in Birr."

There are still some places available for September 2023. Forms can be downloaded on their website www.gaelscoilnalaochra.com or they can be collected directly from the school in Sandymount Haven.

Cllr John Carroll, Cathaoirleach of Birr Municipal Council, expressed his delight and excitement with confirmation that planning permission was granted for the new school for Gaelscoil na Laochra by Offaly County Council.

This clears the final obstacle to getting the contractors on site to do the necessary groundwork prior to commencement of construction.

Cllr Carroll, who is also Cathaoirleach of the Board of Management of Gaelscoil na Laochra, pointed out that agreements are in place with the contractors who will be involved in delivering the project and finance is in place and been administered by Laois Offaly Education and Training Board, who will be overseeing delivery of the project which is planned for completion by Quarter 1 of 2024.

Cllr Carroll expressed his appreciation of all who have assisted and supported the Board in their campaign for a school premises suitable for the needs of its pupils. He added, this new school changes the whole dynamic of education in the Birr area, as it provides a modern carbon friendly building with the type of BER rating only dreamed about in the past. It’s on a greenfield site of six acres which will cater for expansion in the future but also now allows space for games and recreation which was not available in their temporary accommodation since foundation in 2015.

This school will be a co-educational, multi denominational school with Irish as the primary language of instruction which is fitting as we celebrate 100 years as an independent State and at a time when Irish is now recognised as an official language of the EU which will ensure great opportunities for those proficient in Gaeilge into the future.

The new school will be located off the new North Western distributor road, which has been partially constructed to serve Lidl, and will be extended to serve the new school and expected to be completed (extended to Banagher Road) by Offaly County Council in 2024.

Gaelscoil na Laochra, which is under the patronage of An Foras Pàtrunachta, prides itself not just on the education it delivers but on its broad and diverse range of extracurricular activities including music, dance, art, robotics, sport, chess, explorative engineering etc.

Cllr Carroll concluded by stating this is the final leg of a journey commenced in 2009 when a small group of “Gaelgeoirs “came together to promote the Irish Language in Birr and seek to ensure the children of Birr had an opportunity to be educated in the Irish language. In 2011 a Naionra was established and campaigned for a Gaelscoil, which was intensified following the results of the divestment survey at the behest of Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn in 2012/13 which showed a demand in Birr for a multi denominational Gaelscoil, which was established in a temporary premises in Birr Town Soccer club before transferring to a temporary home in Sandymount and now preparing its move to a permanent home.

“Comhghairdeas agus mile buiochas le gach dhuinne a chabhraigh linn ar an turas,” a deir se.

Independent TD for Laois Offaly Carol Nolan has described the news that Gaelscoil na Laochra has finally been approved for a new school building as ‘”the icing on the cake following a long and protracted process for the school community.”

Deputy Nolan had repeatedly made representations to the Minister for Education Norma Foley and the Department of Education on the matter.

The Minister had confirmed to Deputy Nolan in February of this year that a decision on the planning application for Gaelscoil na Laochra in Birr would be ready by the end of that month.

This followed Deputy Nolan’s intervention on the matter during a Priority Oral Questions session in the Dáil.

The original lease for the Gaelscoil was for three years from July 2016 until June 2019 but that was then extended to 2021 following the granting of Planning Permission for a temporary change of use to facilitate the school operating from a property owned by Offaly County Council.

“I want to warmly and indeed enthusiastically welcome the confirmation that the school has received today,” said Deputy Nolan.

“I also want to acknowledge Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB) who have been working diligently to advance the project.

“In particular I want to highly commend the determination of the Príomhoide Niamh Uí Chléirigh, and patron body An Foras Patrúnachta as well as the school's Board of Management and Cllr John Carroll.

“Now that the approval has finally arrived, we need to see urgent delivery. That is the end point that all of us want to achieve for the children, the staff and the entire Birr community,” concluded Deputy Nolan.