Three-storey extension approved for city school

Our Lady’s College on Presentation Road is set for a major expansion, after Galway City Council approved plans for a three-storey extension.

Last December, Ceist Ltd (the Catholic Education and Irish Schools Trust) sought permission for the new extension, which will include space for three classrooms, a new science lab, business studies room, technology rooms, preparation rooms and toilets.

Planners have approved the application, but ordered that a conservation architect and an archaeologist must monitor all works to any protected structure on site.

A full archaeological assessment must be carried out before any sub-surface works take place.

The Council also ordered that a full construction and excavation management plan, as well as traffic management plans, hours of construction and noise, dust, odour and vibration mitigation plans be prepared and agreed with the local authority.

Protection measures for the Eglinton Canal and a landscaping scheme must also be submitted to the Council.

At the moment, the school – the amalgamation of the Presentation and Mercy secondary schools – also operates from the old Mercy building at Newtownsmyth.

Ceist said Our Lady’s College would have a long-term enrolment is estimated at 420 students. An evaluation carried out in 2014 found existing accommodation of 4,386 square metres, with a requirement for an additional 2,058 sq m to cater for a school population of 500 pupils.

The existing planning application is for 1,127 sq m, and there is a new PE hall planned in a second phase.

“Our Lady’s College currently operate daily on both school sites and will continue to do so until the proposed building extension is completed. This is a very unsatisfactory position from the school’s standpoint and continues to create significant issues with timetabling, staffing and integration.”

To combat parking and traffic issues, the school said that drop-off in the vicinity of the school will be “discouraged” and it is trying to arrange a Park ‘n’ Stride scheme with the Council, whereby participating parents could park free for an hour each morning and evening and Mill Street carpark.

During the planning process, environmental group An Taisce expressed concerns about the PE hall which will be included in a future phase and the negative impact it would have on the canal’s ‘wildlife corridor’.

The group also voiced concerns about traffic volumes, adding it was unrealistic to expect an increase in pupil numbers and reduction in parent drop-offs outside the school.

It said the entrance gate is close to a blind bend, and the road is already extremely busy when there are funerals and weddings at the nearby St Joseph’s church.