Entire modular building for Laois school with 'deteriorated prefabs'

A Laois primary school may be the first in the county to get an entirely new modular rapid build school building, which is hoped to be installed within months.

The small rural school of Gaelscoil Shlí Dála in Ballaghmore is hoping to replace dilapidated prefabs with an entire new building including a PE hall, in time for the next school year this September.

Gaelscoil Shlí Dála's board chairman is former President of the GAA Liam O'Neill and principal is Teresa Kennedy.

It teaches 50 boys and girls through Irish, with 12 of them attending two ASD early intervention classrooms. 

Below: pupils pictured recently outside their prefab classrooms.

Local Cllr Conor Bergin told the Leinster Express / Laois Live that there are health and safety issues with the current building.

He submitted a letter to the planners supporting their application, saying that the present prefabs are "wholly unsuitable for their needs, and the health and safety of the children."

"The prefabricated buildings have deteriorated significantly and are in a bad state of disrepair. Since the school opened in 2005 it has expanded and grown significantly," Cllr Bergin said.

Cllr Bergin states that the school already has the money for the modular building approved by the Department of Education.

"I am anxious that this planning application be granted... so that construction can commence immediately and the new school building is ready for September 2023," he said.

Below: another view of the new planned modular school.

The Board of Management seeks permission to revise, site boundaries and remove three pre-fabricated classrooms and outbuildings from site, and to refurbish and relocate two further prefabricated classrooms.

A new school building will have four prefabricated classrooms, an activities hall, two staff offices, a staff canteen, toilets, circulation corridors, outdoor play areas, sensory playground and all ancillary facilities.

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Also sought is permission to upgrade the existing sewage treatment system and provide a 3,500 litre underground fire water storage tank, with additional car parking facilities and pedestrian access footpaths and all associated site works.

A decision is due on the application by May 8.