Kilminchy earmarked for new Portlaoise primary school by Department of Education

The next Portlaoise primary school to be built in the rapidly expanding Laois town will be in the Kilminchy area, suggested by the Department of Education and agreed by Laois County Council.

The Department has suggested Kilminchy to rebalance school locations in Portlaoise, and described the type of site required, in a submission made to the town's next Local Area Plan.

“The projected growth figures could see the demand for primary school places increase substantially which could place significant pressure on existing schools. Further to this, the Department is mindful that the geographical spread of primary schools within the town in relation to the location of much of the existing and proposed new communities is somewhat unbalanced.

“The Department is requesting that a site for a potential future primary school be reserved in the Kilminchy area of the town. The Department further requests that the site is appropriately zoned (i.e. Community, Educational and Institutional) and that it is of an adequate size and centrally located within the community,” they say in a submission to the draft Portlaoise Local Area Plan. 

It agrees to take action if a new school is found to be necessary.

“The Department will engage with the Council where the findings of an assessment require a review of existing or future school site provision within a specific location.”

However any new school will not be built for years to come. In the meantime, the Department of Education says extra land should be given beside Portlaoise’s existing schools so they can expand.

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald fears the return of prefabs which filled playgrounds of the old school buildings in Portlaoise for years in the past.

"I'm not happy. The idea of adding more prefabs is not acceptable. We all know there is a need for more schools. I don't think we can accept this part," she said.

Cllr Willie Aird said "I'd hate to see us go back to more prefabs. The Department of Education wants to wait untiler there is a crisis situation".

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley noted that it is eight years since the Dunamase College secondary school formed, and school construction has not yet started.

"The department need to get their act together. On one hand they say they will deal with an overflow with extensions, on the the other hand they are asking the council to look at Kilminchy. The LOETB has three acres, land for a primary and a park and ride will be put in on it. It makes no sense to ask the council to look for an alternative when land is there. We know children in Aghnaharna living beside schools are being bussed out to country schools. The argument is won," she said.

Director of Services Angela McEvoy gained their agreement to write an objective into the new town plan, to carry out a feasibility study, in contact with all the schools, within six months of the plan being adopted.

"At least we'll have a target to stick to," she said.

Cllr Tommy Mulligan is also a primary school teacher in Scoil Bhride NS, Portlaoise.

"The option of prefabs shouldn't be an option. The principals, teachers parents and pupils don't want it. Leaving to go outside of the town to school shouldn't be an option. Rural schools don't want that either, it changes their dynamic. We need a new school, I think the decision is made, just go for it," he said.

"We will continue to talk to the Department of Education," Ms McEvoy said.

The Department of Education notes the following in its submission, about adding land to existing Portlaoise schools.

“In terms of the Departments future school place requirements, the Department have cited a preference to expand existing school facilities if possible, to cater for potential additional school places if required. To this end, the Department of Education have requested the Planning Authority to examine the potential of providing a land buffer around each of the school to enable them to expand further if necessary.

"The projected growth figures will see an increase in post-primary school place demand but it is currently expected that this extra requirement could be accommodated by existing facilities and their potential expansion if required. The proposed new building for Dunamaise College will be relevant in this regard."

The authority expects to have to add more special need classrooms.

“The Department anticipates that additional Special Education Needs provision at both Primary and Post Primary level will be required in the future throughout the country and this may result in schools requiring additional accommodation”

They note that school place demand could also rise unexpectedly.

“In terms of assessing current and future capacity, the Department of Education has to be mindful of potential unforeseen circumstances such as the Ukrainian crisis.”

The new Portlaoise Local Area Plan is expected to be adopted by November 2024.