Laois school hopes to expand into old service station site

A LAOIS primary school that urgently needs more space has come up with a plan to expand into a vacant service station site nearby.

However, the proposal for The Rock NS near Mountmellick has received no response from the Department of Education, which would have to purchase the land.

The primary school with almost 200 pupils was instructed by the department to provide an additional autism class this year, despite having no space on their existing site.

The school’s board of management wrote to the department last June, requesting that it consider purchasing an adjacent site that is up for sale, containing a vacant service station, shop and cottage. Three months later and weeks into the new school year, the department has yet to reply.

The issue was highlighted at the September meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District (MDC), when a county council official confirmed that a letter seeking the site purchase was sent to the department last June, by unanimous agreement of Portlaoise councillors. The school also submitted a similar request to the department.

The council letter pointed out that, should the site be acquired, the school had proposals ‘whereby the lands will provide space for ongoing expansion of the school together with a safe, secure, parking area for staff and for parents, whose children attend the school’.

The school authorities and parents have repeatedly voiced concern over traffic safety outside The Rock NS, which is located on the busy road to Emo and the M7 motorway. While the school is in Mountmellick parish, it is in the Portlaoise Municipal District.

Cllr Paddy Buggy said he was disappointed with the department’s failure to respond, as he described the availability of the service station site as “a golden opportunity that shouldn't be missed”.

He said: “There is an accident waiting to happen there and it behoves the department to buy that land, even if they can’t afford to develop it yet and can’t expand the school for a while. It's very dangerous there for parents and children. There is not enough room for expansion. It is up to the government and the department. They should purchase it.” 

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald agreed and commented: “Laois Co Council has put in safety measures, they've done everything they can. It is a golden opportunity to avail of this land and make the school safer for pedestrians, drivers and everyone in the vicinity.” 

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley noted that there was a change of minister since the letter was sent last June. Councillors supported her proposal that the request be resent to new education minister Helen McEntee.