Construction nears for major €3.35m extension to Laois primary school

Construction of a major €3.35m extension at a Laois primary school has gotten a big step closer.

Scoil Phadraig Naofa boys primary school in Mountmellick has advertised for construction tenders to expand it "on all four sides".

If there are no further delays, the extended school could be complete by spring 2026, its principal hopes. 

It is several years since Laois County Council approved planning permission for three new classrooms, and in February 2022 they approved a second application for an ASD wing and a two storey stairlink. Both plans will now be built, but over three phases.

Delays were due to the Covid pandemic, the Principal says. 

John Murrell spoke to the Leinster Express / Laois Live on the day it went live on the Government's etenders website. 

"It's great, we are looking forward to it. We hope that building will start in late August, beginning with scoping out the site," he said.

The school will get four single storey extensions located to the south, east, west and north of the existing school building on the Davitt Road, which adjoins St Joseph's girls national school. 

Existing school in grey, extensions in yellow & beige.

There will be a two-storey extension to provide a new stairwell to the first floor level.  Three new general classrooms and three resource rooms will be constructed. The school will also get new office accommodation and sanitary facilities.

Top of the range Autism facilities will include two Special Education classrooms with safe bases and toilet accommodation, a central activities space and a multi-sensory room, external soft play area, sensory garden and soft play break out area. 

The job is estimated to cost €3.35m according to the tender document.

Scoil Phadraig Naofa boys national school on left, with St Joseph's girls NS on the right. Image: Google Maps

Scoil Phadraig has two ASD classes that are in prefabs, which will be removed once the permanent addition is opened.

"We will have a modern spec on our classrooms. The school was built in 1971 and while it was upgraded and energy retrofitted, we do need new classrooms, especially for our children with ASD. It will be modern, with the space that they need, giving them every advantage," Mr Murrell said.

Mr Murrell said the works will hopefully be complete in 18 months, which would be in spring 2026.

"It will be done in three phases, as advised by our architects, to ensure minimum disruption," he said.

The new extension is designed by the same architects who did an extension for the girls' school, Fitzgibbon McGinley.