Department Of Education Criticsied For Response To Lack Of Schools Spaces In Laois Town

Friday, 13 September 2024 14:10

Calls are being made for a new school to serve the area.

Councillors are criticising a Department of Education response to the lack of school spaces in a Laois town.

Calls are being made for the focus to be shifted towards the development of a new school in Portlaoise.

The Department issued a submission to the Chief Executive of the council during public consultations on the Draft Portlaoise Local Area Plan.

The response acknowledged there is a capacity issue across primary and post primary schools in the town, and may be dealt with by adding more classrooms to existing schools through extensions and in the future a new school could be discussed.

Fianna Fáil councillor Catherine Fitzgerald says prefabs are not an acceptable measure to handle a lack of available space in schools.

Independent councillor James Kelly accused the Department of Education of being reactive, not proactive and only using 'sticking plasters' on the problems.

The Chief Executive suggested responding with a feasibility study for a new school within six months of the plan being adopted, which the council agreed to.