New special needs classroom approved for Laois school

A new special needs classroom has been approved for  Colaiste Iosagáin, Portarlington with refurbishment works also due to take place on the existing  classroom for  children with special educational needs.

Minister of State, Sean Fleming has welcomed the news confirmed by the government this week. 

"Additional refurbishment works and improvement works are going to be carried out on the existing classroom which currently provides special classes for children with special educational needs," said Minister Fleming.

"All in all this is very important for a large town like Portarlington where the demand for these facilities is high.

"I look forward to the school finalising the arrangements with the builder so that works can commence and be completed.

"Finally, I want to acknowledge the work on behalf of this very large school doing everything in its power to meet the educational needs of the growing population in Portarlington and surrounding areas and the parents and entire school community for working with the school authorities on this project," he said.

The school recently got the green light to seek planning permission a long called for redevelopment and expansion.

It seeks firstly to demolish and remove the existing school and temporary prefab classrooms.

That will be followed by construction of new school, part three-storey, part two-storey, covering a vast 12,646sqm (over 136,000sqft) area.

The new school will have 48 classrooms, 24 specialist teaching rooms with associated preparation rooms, four special needs classrooms with a Special Needs Education suite, a double height multi-purpose hall with associated PE accommodation.